Notice
May 21-24, 2024 - National Public Works Week |
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The City of Temiskaming Shores celebrated National Public Works Week by coordinating a fun filled week of educating the public on the importance of Public Works.
The 2024 Theme was “Advancing Qualify of Life for All”. Public works contributes to advancing and enhancing our quality of life, no matter where we live in the world. Public works professionals provide essential services that lead to healthier, happier, more vibrant communities. Thank you for supporting the Public Works Team. |
May 2, 2024 - 2024 Roadway Resurfacing Program |
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Council for the City of Temiskaming Shores has approved an agreement with Miller Paving Limited in the amount of $378,946.30 for the 2024 Roads Program. This agreement allows the Public Works Department to continue the momentum on upgrading road surfaces within the City of Temiskaming Shores. This year the City will update approximately 2.0 lane kilometers of road and approximately 2,750 m2 of surface treated roads. Miller Paving will begin work starting as soon as possible. Roads will be temporarily reduced to one lane in some areas. Please be cautious in the area around construction workers. In 2024, we will see the flowing sections of roads surfaces being improved
The City is aware there are other roads in our Municipality that require resurfacing. However these roads were selected based on an infrastructure review and the Asset Management Plan. Council has committed to completing work on separate capital projects, Albert Street reconstruction and Dymond Industrial Park, which are independent from the Roads Program. The City also has a patching program that will be ongoing throughout the summer months. Thank you for your patience and understanding during the construction season! For questions or concerns please contact Public Works at: |
Downtown Cores Mobility Study
About |
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City of Temiskaming Shores Transportation Study Notice of Completion - May 2024 Presentation Information - March 2024 Presentation Information - November 2023 When Where The Study The Process The Purpose We Want to Hear from You If you are interested in providing comments or receiving further information on this project, please contact: Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record and will be released, if requested, to any person. Notice first issued February 23, 2023 |
Road Repair
Potholes |
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Potholes are formed when water gets below the surface of the road through cracks in the pavement and then expands and contracts. When it’s cold, the water freezes and expands causing the pavement to bend or crack. Then when the weather gets milder, the ice melts and the pavement contracts, leaving areas where more water can get in. If this freeze/thaw cycle happens many times, the road can become very weak. Regular weight of traffic passing over weakened areas can cause the surface of the road to collapse which causes potholes. Due to this freeze-thaw cycle, pothole issues are most common in the late winter and early spring. We predominantly use cold mix for patching in the winter and blown bitumen emulsion mix in the summer months. The city may also require asphalt patching depending on the severity of the pothole. However, during the winter, local asphalt plants shut down; therefore cold mix patching is used. |
Replacement and Patching |
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The City of Temiskaming Shores is responsible for 212 km of roadway and approximately 111 km is paved. These roads are paved, treated or gravel and range from class 1 to 6 and every one of these assets are crucial to the functionality of the city. Therefore, it’s important that all levels of maintenance are performed in order to keep a safe and healthy transportation network. Replacing asphalt can be performed in many different ways that include Resurfacing, Rehabilitation or full reconstruction. These different forms of maintenance exist and are chosen for different reasons wither it’s in conjunction with infrastructure repair or strictly financial. |
Sidewalk Repair |
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The City has a sidewalk inspection and spot repair program for the maintenance of the approximately 40 kilometers of city-owned sidewalk. If a sidewalk is found to be broken or raised a temporary patch will be put in place or grinding of the sidewalk will be carried out as quickly as possible. If required, the sidewalk slab(s) will be noted for replacement at a later date as part of the annual sidewalk repair program. However, unplanned sidewalk repairs or replacement may be required due to infrastructure repairs. |
Street Illumination and Signs
Street lights |
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Street light maintenance and installation provide an overall safe environment for vehicles and pedestrians during periods of diminished light or darkness. Lighting on roadways and walkways is currently maintained by Miller Maintenance Group on behalf of the city of Temiskaming Shores. |
Report a Problem with Street Lighting |
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To report concerns with street lighting, contact the public works department at 705-647-6220.
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Traffic signs |
| Traffic signs are meant to guide, warn and regulate traffic flow. A city crew maintains all existing signs and replaces them when they wear out or when they get damaged (temporary signs may be installed during the winter season), and installing new system elements when approved by the appropriate authority. |
Spring Maintenance
Half Load Restrictions |
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Half load restrictions are generally from April to June. Exact dates are set annually, dependent on road conditions and temperatures. The annual half load restrictions on Municipal roads takes effect on March 6, 2024 and will remain in place until June 31, 2024, unless indicated otherwise. When half load restrictions are in effect, a road is off-limits to vehicles exceeding 5 tonnes per axle. However, there may be alternate routes that can be taken to reach a destination. WhyRoads become softer and weaker during the spring thaw. Heavy vehicle traffic on these roadways can cause permanent damage. Following half load restrictions reduces the potential for any unnecessary road repairs or reconstruction. Oversize/Overweight PermitMotorists are subject to weight and dimensions restrictions set out in the Highway Traffic Act. An Oversize/Overweight Permit is required for anyone wanting to move loads exceeding Ontario Ministry of Transportation legislated limits for height, length, width, or weight year-around. Exemptions aren't typically granted during the half load restriction period. |
Street Sweeping and Spring Clean-up |
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The annual spring clean-up includes sweeping all paved roads and some hard surfaces, to remove debris and materials that have accumulated throughout the winter season and could pose dangers to motorists, pedestrians/cyclists as well as clogging up catch basins and inlets. Street Sweeping PhasesStreet sweeping is done in several phases:
This operation may be repeated several times depending on the amount of material needed to be removed. |
Roadside Brushing |
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City staff conduct Roadside Brushing of City right-of-ways, especially along City Sidewalks to eliminate any obstruction. If residents have overhanging hedges or trees on Municipal right-of-ways, we ask the homeowner to begin trimming. If not, city staff will be cutting hedges and brushing trees back, |
Parking during clean-up |
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Residents are asked to help crews clean the city by not parking vehicles on the streets while street sweeping activities are being conducted in the area. Typical hours of operations are Monday to Friday, between 6:30am and 3pm beginning in April (weather dependant). Hours of operation may also very depending on the location that needs to be swept. |
Winter Maintenance
Winter Maintenance Operations |
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Weather Monitoring Season | October 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025 Winter Maintenance Season | On or about November 1, 2024 to April 15, 2025 Although winter weather is often random and unpredictable, city snow removal efforts are not. The city is committed to providing a high level of snow removal service throughout the winter season. Plowing, sanding and salting are performed with consideration to safety, environmental and budget concerns. Your cooperation in helping to keep streets clean and safe is appreciated. |
Overnight On-Street Parking Restriction |
Effective November 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025By-law No. 2012-101 prohibits the parking of vehicles on municipal streets or City-owned parking lots between the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Please remove vehicles from municipal areas by 11:00 p.m. as Winter Crews begin snow removal. By-law No. 2012-101, to regular traffic and parking | Section 5.9 of schedule “A” Bylaw No. 2012-019, to prohibit and regulate unusual noise | Section 4.7, exemptions, snow removal |
Levels of Service |
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The City has developed carefully planned levels of winter road service to combat the diverse weather conditions we see every winter. A combination of City-owned trucks and rented units provide effective snow plowing and removal services to city roads through our Priority and Secondary route system. This system assigns priority to all major roads with the highest traffic in the city. To ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians, these major routes are serviced on a 24/7 basis when necessary. Secondary routes (all residential streets in the city) are attended to regularly, but less often than Priority routes. With a system of service based around snow levels and maintenance times, we can ensure clean and safe roads are maintained as efficiently as possible. A combined fleet of plow trucks, sanders, graders and sidewalk machines are responsible to maintain Priority routes 24/7 and Secondary routes. Note: The city’s levels of winter maintenance service meet or exceed the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways. |
Service Information - Road Routes |
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The Plan assigns priority to all major roads with the highest traffic in the city. To ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians, these major routes are serviced on a 24/7 basis when necessary and are maintained as bare as possible. Secondary routes (all residential streets in the city) are attended to regularly, but less often than Priority routes and are maintained in a snow packed condition. Primary Road Routes
Secondary Road Routes
View or print a copy of the below Road Plowing Route for primary, secondary and highway plowing routes. |
Service Information - Sidewalk Routes |
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Sidewalks are classified in accordance with the associated pedestrian traffic and proximity to schools, seniors’ buildings, downtown business areas and high-volume roadways. Sidewalks are maintained in a snow packed condition. When possible sidewalk machines start later than plowing operations, for snow removal and disposal, to address snow that may be pushed onto pathways during snow plowing operations. Note: Not all municipal sidewalks are maintained during winter operations. Primary Sidewalk Routes
Secondary Sidewalk Routes
View or print a copy of the below Sidewalk Snow Removal Route for primary, secondary and highway plowing routes. |
Responsibilities |
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The Corporation of the City of Temiskaming Shores is responsible for winter maintenance on 210 km of paved roads, 172.km of unpaved roads, 40 km of sidewalk, 9km of paths and trails, and other locations that consist of parking lots, bus stops, laneways and facilities. Winter operations are carried out by a combination of full-time road employees and, as required, contractor services, including three Heavy Equipment Operator / Crew Leaders, one Heavy Equipment / Crew Leader – Mechanic, Equipment Operators and Water and Sewer Operators reporting to the Superintendents. City road crews will then be separated into Day, Evening, Night and weekend shift to deliver these services to the public. |
Significant Weather Event |
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Winter Event is a weather condition affecting roads such as snowfall, wind blown snow, freezing rain, frost, black ice, etc. to which a winter event response is required. Winter Event Response is a services of winter maintenance activities performed in response to a winter event. Declaration of Significant Weather Event is decided by the municipality. Public notice for declaring the beginning or end of a significant weather event shall be posted on the municipal website or social media page. Services effected by significant weather events include:
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Snowbank Removal and Disposal |
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Priority 1 Locations | Greater than 60cm of snow Priority 2 Locations | Greater than 60cm of snow As a result of snow plowing operations, snow accumulates at the side of roads as windrows or mounds. The City starts snow removal operations when these windrows reach volumes that create a nuisance or hazard to pedestrians and motorists and to maintain capacity for subsequent snowfalls. The objective is to commence removal operations in Priority 1 locations as soon as practicable after becoming aware that the snow bank accumulation is greater than 60cm and 120cm in Priority 2 locations. Experience over the years has shown that the City has the capability and capacity to remove and dispose of 2700 cubic meters of snow per night shift. One average snowstorm requires three night shifts to complete all required removal work in approved designated areas. Snow removal involves the use of in-house snow blowers, front-end loaders, motor graders and city owned dump trucks as well as contracted dump trucks. By-law 2009-159, Regulate Removal and Relocation of Snow No person shall;
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Decommissioning |
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After the winter season expires Corporation of the City of Temiskaming Shores undertakes the following tasks to decommission winter operations. Two weeks after the winter season ends
One month after the winter season ends
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Frequently Asked Questions
The plow always leaves snow at the end of my driveway. Why can’t this be cleared by the city? |
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Unfortunately, plow drivers cannot control the amount of snow that leaves the end of the wing plow. All residents in Temiskaming Shores are responsible for the removal of driveway windows as the city does not provide this service. A private contractor may be a suitable option for those looking for this level of service. |
Why doesn’t the city apply salt on secondary routes? |
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Salt is applied to primary routes only. The level of service on primary routes is to keep them as bare as possible. These are roads that include bus routes, roads with heavy traffic or higher speeds or steep grades. Pickled sand (sand mixed with roughly 5% salt) is applied to secondary routes. The level of service on these roads is to maintain a snow-packed condition. The pickled sand provides traction for drivers and pedestrians to get around safely on these roads. |
Why do we salt a road and then come along and plow it all off? |
| In a continuing snow storm, we apply salt to the road surface early in the storm. This causes a melting action that prevents snow that falls later from freezing to the road surface. When the plow does come along, the road gets cleaned down to the pavement and we do not get a frozen snow pack that is very difficult and expensive to remove later. |
Why is the plow driving with its blade up? |
Reasons a plow might be travelling with the blade up:
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Why is the plow scraping the pavement? |
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For larger snow falls it is common to do an initial pass to clear streets and then follow up with a second pass to clear and new fallen and residual snow and to wing back the banks make room for snow storage that will be required for future storms. Residential streets are also plowed when they become soft or slushy to prevent ruts, potholes and icy conditions from developing when the temperature drops and the road re-freezes. When milder temperatures are experienced it also causes additional melt water that can lead to pooling of water and other drainage/flooding problems if catch basins are covered with ice and snow. Slush is removed from the edge of road to improve drainage leading to and around catch basins during the plowing process. |
Why does the sidewalk gets cleared on one side of my street but not the other until later? |
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We try to get one side of the street open on as many streets as possible as soon as possible and then come back to clear the rest. Sidewalk priorities include school zones, commercial buildings, etc. which generate a high level of pedestrian traffic. |
Why are the sidewalks often first, then the plow comes by after and pushes the snow back on the sidewalks? |
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We frequently have issues with snow plows filling in sidewalks that are in close proximity to the road. Staff do their best to coordinate sidewalk clearing to take place following road plowing however this is difficult during larger and extended storms when multiple passes are required to clear roads. Sidewalk machines with blowers travel much slower than road plows making it difficult to keep up. |
Why do I see sidewalk plows driving on the road? |
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The city has a system of priority routes on arterial roads and secondary routes on residential roads that are each assigned to various operations. Sidewalk plows often travel on roads to and from their route or work location as it is a quicker method of travel than by sidewalk. |
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