Road Maintenance

Asphalt pavement is widely used in road construction and other urban infrastructure projects. It can be found almost everywhere in and around urban centres. You may know asphalt pavement is a mixture of aggregates, binders and fillers. However, you may not know that there is more than one kind of asphalt! We're going to talk about one of the more common aggregate products, hot mix asphalt, and go over some of its uses.

Micro surfacing/slurry seal is a surface treatment designed to extend the life of asphalt pavements in fair to good condition by providing skid resistance, restricting moisture intrusion, protecting the structure from further oxidation and ravelling, and restoring a uniform black appearance. It is the most economical choice when wheel nut leveling is required. Micro surfacing/slurry seal boasts quick construction times and minimal disruption to the traveling public.

It is applied to existing pavements using a specialized micro box (more comparable to a paver screed than a slurry box), which is connected to the micro mixing unit. The micro box is variable width, allowing total coverage of a sing lane in one pass.

Micro surfacing/slurry seal reduces the life cycle cost by 25-40%, reduces greenhouse gases by 44% or more and reduces raw materials by 35% or more compared to traditional resurfacing methods. Micro surfacing adds 6 to 8 years or more when applied for optimum preservation performance. 

Surface treatment is the application of an asphalt emulsion on either an existing asphalt road or a fresh, compacted granular surface immediately followed by the application of a cover aggregate.

It provides an economical all-weather surface for light to higher volume traffic, depending on the emulsion and quality of aggregate used. It also provides a waterproof barrier that prevents the intrusion of moisture into the underlying materials and provide a skid resistant surface. It gives new life to a dry, weathered surface. A weathered, raveled pavement can be restored to a useful service by application of a single or multiple surface treatment.

The asphalt emulsion is a mixture of asphalt cement, water and an emulsifying agent. Its composition is approximately 66% asphalt cement (AC), 33% water and 1% emulsifier. It is applied with a computerized distributor at rates varying from 1.30kg/m2 to 2.00kg/m2. The most commonly used emulsions are HF150, HF150P (Polymer), HFMS-2 and CRS-2. Other emulsions are available for specific applications.

The aggregate is divided into six different classes:

• Class 1 - Washed Chip
• Class 2 - Comparable to 5/8 Crusher Run
• Class 3 - HL4
• Class 4 - Commonly Known as a Sand Seal
• Class 5 - Fine Washed Chip
• Class 6 - HL3

Material from gravel roads, including sediment from winter sanding, moves from the roadbed to the ditches as a result of grading, traffic, rainfall runoff, snowmelt runoff, plowing erosion and potentially other activities.

As a result of this movement, roadside ditches and culverts fill in with gravel and sediment over time. The periodic removal of this material is required to maintain the hydraulic capacity of the ditches and protect the roadway and travelling public. Ditches are typically vegetated for resistance to flow and erosion, which could vary over time and space as the vegetation grows and dies. The capacity of the ditches can be reduced by overgrown vegetation. Periodic mowing is often required to retain the hydraulic capacity of the ditches. Invasive plant species can spread along roads and dominate ditches when weed seeds mix into the soil/mud carried by vehicles. Invasive plants can also become established as a result of disturbance and become a seed source for other areas.

Depending on precipitation levels, dust control is first applied at the end of June to early July. Following the initial application, we do spot dust control in front of homes and near intersections and railways. This usually lasts until the end of September.

The Township makes every effort to control dust in areas under construction; however, the movement of heavy construction equipment makes dust control measures less effective. Once the construction project is completed, the area receives its regular dust control application.

Gravel roads are graded in the spring as soon as the weather allows. Once dust suppressant is applied in June, grading is avoided until September. Fall grading commences in September, as needed, until freeze up. To properly grade a gravel road, you need three days of good weather (one day to dry, one day to grade, and one day for the road to set/compact).

Many rural municipalities, including Ramara, follow a standard practice of painting lines on collector and arterial roads, while residential roads are typically not lined. It is not legally required to paint lines on residential roads, and doing so could set a precedent for all residential areas in the township. Additionally, having lines on rural residential roads could impact safety. Drivers may be less likely to move over safely to avoid objects, vehicles, or machinery on the side of the road if they are focused on staying within the lines.

Potholes are more prevalent in the spring when frost develops and snow melts. Residents are to be careful when going through puddles, as they can hide potholes. The Township does not repair potholes in driveways or private parking lots.

Roadside "brushing" typically refers to a vegetation management practice that involves clearing or cutting overgrown vegetation, such as bushes, shrubs, and small trees, from public road allowances. This activity is often performed along roadsides, highways, and other public spaces to maintain visibility, ensure safety, and prevent the encroachment of vegetation onto roadways or infrastructure. Here are some key aspects of brushing:

• Brushing helps improve visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists by removing overgrown vegetation that may obstruct sightlines. This is crucial for road safety and traffic management.
• Clearing vegetation from road shoulders and medians is a common aspect of roadside maintenance. It prevents plants from obstructing traffic signs, signals, and other important infrastructure.
• In areas prone to wildfires, brushing may be part of fire prevention efforts. Creating firebreaks by removing combustible vegetation helps reduce the risk of wildfires spreading to populated areas.
• Brushing may be part of efforts to control the spread of invasive plant species that can negatively impact local ecosystems.
• Infrastructure departments may brush along trails, footpaths, and recreational areas to maintain accessibility and prevent the vegetation overgrowth.
• Clearing vegetation from public rights-of-way ensures that these areas remain accessible for public use and that the intended infrastructure functions effectively.

Mechanical equipment, such as brush cutters or mowers, may be used for large-scale brushing operations, while manual tools may be employed for more precise work in sensitive areas. The frequency of brushing activities depends on factors such as climate and vegetation growth rates overall. Brushing is an important aspect of public works aimed at maintaining public spaces and ensuring the safety and functionality of infrastructure.

Roadside brushing will occur on all roadways when required and the Township typically performs the work in all areas of the township every other year.

Roadside mowing addresses the tall grasses that grow along roadsides, mostly in front of agricultural properties and naturalized areas outside the urban boundaries. This program also maintains a few locations inside the urban boundaries as required, the practice cuts typically on average 2 metres from the edge of the shoulder/road towards the ditch.

The service is completed by infrastructure staff who operate the equipment required to cut the steep slopes of roadside ditches. The current operating budget for the program allows for two cuts each year. The first cut is started at the beginning of June with an anticipated completion date of the July long weekend, and the second cut typically starts in August to be completed for the Labour Day long weekend.

Some key aspects of the roadside mowing are:

• Roadside mowing helps improve visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists by removing overgrown vegetation that may obstruct sightlines. This is crucial for road safety and traffic management.
• Clearing vegetation from road shoulders is a common aspect of roadside maintenance. It prevents plants from obstructing traffic signs, signals, and other important infrastructure.
• The cut assists in controlling weeds, ticks and other invasive species.