Regional Road Maintenance

Pothole repairs

Old pavement, traffic and weather all help form potholes. Maintenance staff are always looking for potholes. They make repairs on an ongoing basis. Have you seen a concerning pothole? Report an issue and we'll take appropriate action.

Shoulder grading and washout repairs

The Region grades shoulders along rural roadsides where there are no curbs and storm sewers. This makes roads safer by insuring a smooth transition from the paved edge. It also supports the pavement. Grading makes the pavement last longer.

Heavy rainfall can create washouts that damage the shoulder. The Region patrols roads regularly to find and repair washouts.

Bridge maintenance

Regional bridges receive annual maintenance. Bridge maintenance includes flushing with water to remove debris, clearing drains and repairing loose concrete that may be in barrier walls and sidewalks.

Roadside vegetation control

In urban areas, the Region's contracted teams cut boulevard grass. The Region only cuts rear lot and side yard boulevards.

In rural areas, longer grass next to the shoulder is cut. This is typically done twice a season.

Driveway entrances

The Region maintains driveway culverts along Regional roads. You will need to obtain an entrance permit, if you require a culvert for a new residential entrance or a curb cut for an entrance in the urban area.

Summer road patrol

Works department staff regularly patrol all regional roads. Road patrollers look out for hazards.

Winter road patrol

During the winter, Regional roads are patrolled seven days a week. Winter road crews are equipped to trigger winter maintenance equipment to deal with changing weather conditions.

Snow plowing and salting

The Region deploys trucks with plows and salters in response to snow and freezing rain. Calibrated spinners precisely control how much salt is released.

Have you seen a winter maintenance concern on a Regional road? Report an issue and we will take appropriate action.

Anti-icing

You may notice trucks spraying a solution of salt and water (brine) on roads and bridges when there is no winter storm. This is called anti-icing. The Region sprays before winter weather and when frost or black ice is likely to form on pavement. Anti-icing prevents black ice and frost formation on roads and bridges. It also prevents snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. This enhances safety during winter weather.

Snow removal

When there is too little room for snow storage after plowing, such as in some downtown areas, snow is loaded into trucks and moved to designated areas.

Winter salt management plan

The use of anti-icing solution (salt brine) and road salt is essential to maintaining roadway safety during the winter control season. A salt management plan is in place in the Region of Durham. The plan serves to ensure that the Region continuously improves the management of road salt used in its winter maintenance operations. The Region strives to reduce the amount of salt released to the environment through effective salt management practices while ensuring that road safety remains a top priority.