Road crews working hard to get Toronto streets winter-ready
Friday, 06 December 2019 02:22.PM
(City of Toronto ) - Snow and cold have arrived and City of Toronto maintenance crews have been working day and night throughout the year to make safety-critical improvements such as pothole repairs, street sweeping, catch basin clearance, bike lane maintenance, and utility cut repairs on sidewalks and roads in advance of this winter season.
Pothole repairs
The City is approaching nearly 200,000 pothole repairs for 2019. Crews work proactively by patrolling roads daily, responding to 311 requests from residents and participating in pothole repair blitzes. During six single-day pothole repair blitzes this year, including the most recent one this past Saturday, crews repaired more than 53,000 potholes. Blitzes normally take place on weekends, which helps take advantage of lower vehicle traffic volumes while supporting worker safety. Learn more at http://www.toronto.ca/pot....
Utility cut repairs
The City launched a three-year utility cut repair program in April of this year. A utility cut is an area of sidewalk or road that was cut out (excavated) to improve, install or remove a piece of watermain, gas main, power line or telecommunications infrastructure. The cutout location can deteriorate over time and contractor crews have repaired more than 2,000 locations across Toronto, with an aim to repair more than 5,200 by year three. More is available at http://bit.ly/UtilityCuts....
Street sweeping
When the weather is mild, street sweepers are busy cleaning up debris from Toronto streets, which helps keep roadways safer and cleaner for everyone. The City will welcome a full complement of new street sweeping vehicles in time for spring 2020.
Bike lane repairs
Earlier this fall, City crews focused on bike lane repairs including pothole filling, line paint refreshment and sign repair and adjustments, especially around construction zones. The repairs were made throughout September, following staff field inspections that identified immediate repairs needed, as well as plans for future improvements that are aligned with planned capital work and road resurfacing projects. More about cycling in Toronto is available at http://www.toronto.ca/cyc....
Catch basins
Crews proactively clear catch basins on roads to help rain and melt water move off the road sooner, to reduce the chance of flooding and ice formation on streets, bikeways and sidewalks.
Examples of how the City manages road surfaces include:
• Spring maintenance closure of the Don Valley Parkway, which included 5.5 lane kilometres of road resurfacing and 234 square metres of permanent pothole repairs.
• Fall maintenance closure of the Gardiner Expressway, which included about 2,300 metres of grinding and paving.
• Investment in new asphalt equipment to repair potholes, such as the introduction of 18 new asphalt hotboxes earlier this year.
• Annual local and major road resurfacing projects, as part of the City's road maintenance and resurfacing program.
• Ongoing review of the City's approach to potholes and allocated resources, including maintenance and claims.
The City has a comprehensive road maintenance program and budgeted about $182 million in 2019 for road repairs, rehabilitation and maintenance work.
Members of the public can help by reporting road maintenance concerns when they see them by calling 311, emailing 311@toronto.ca, or by using the 311 app available online.
"Millions of people move about Toronto every day and winter weather is especially tough on our sidewalks, bikeways and roadways. We are committed to doing this work – it is the nuts and bolts work that residents expect and deserve from their municipal government. By making these year-round investments in our road networks, we are making sure they are winter-ready to keep Toronto moving and safe for everyone.”
- Mayor John Tory