Roads, Maintenance, and Street Lights

NOTICE REGARDING WINTER MAINTENANCE:

The winter maintenance (snow-plowing) of Sidewalks along public roads within the public right-of-way are the responsibility of the Town. Winter maintenance operations are carried out by the town by either using its own employees & equipment, or by contracting out such services to a contractor. For these winter maintenance operations, the Town strives to meet or exceed the Ontario provincial regulations governing standards of maintenance of municipal infrastructure.

Sidewalks that are along unassumed roads or private roads are the responsibility of the respective developers or road owners.

Please contact works@ingersoll.ca if you have any questions about winter maintenance of sidewalks or roads in the Town of Ingersoll.

The Public Works Department oversees the maintenance and repair of roads and sidewalks in Ingersoll. The responsibilities of the Public Works Department include the following:

Winter Control Operations on Municipal Streets and Sidewalks
Street Sweeping
Sidewalk and Curb Maintenance
Litter and Debris Pick Up
Bridge and Culvert Maintenance
Roadside Grass Mowing/Leaf Collection
Storm Drain Maintenance
Road Surface Maintenance
Tree Trimming and Removal
Ditches and Municipal Drains
Street Signs and Traffic Signal Lights
Shoulder Grading

Want to report a pothole? See a tree that’s looking a bit tippy? Has a street light burnt out? Report it!

Leaf Pickup Program

2 men using a truck with tube to suck up roadside leaves

The Leaf Pick Up Program is a weekly curbside collection for residential households. (Note: Private streets and condominium corporations do not receive pick up)

Curbside leaf pick up will begin mid October and will end mid November weather permitting with one collection per street per week.

During this time, crews will make one weekly pick up per household.

To help crews with the pick up, we would appreciate your co-operation with the following:

Have leaves out by Monday morning of each week.
Rake leaves onto the boulevard or edge of lawn – NOT ONTO THE STREET.
LEAVES ONLY – don’t include brush, bedding plants, weeds, or loose dirt in the piles.

As a reminder LEAVES, BRUSH, and PLANT MATERIAL can be taken to the Brush & Yard Waste depot at 80 Pemberton St. beside the Public Works Yard

Collected leaves are then hauled away to the County of Oxford Compost Facility for processing.

What is the Fall Leaf Pick Up Program?

The Fall Leaf Pick Up Program includes the collection of leaves from residential properties in Ingersoll. Using leaf vacuum vehicles, work crews collect the leaves that residents rake to the edge of curb. All streets will be vacuumed a minimum of three (3) times during the program.

When does the Leaf Pick Up Program occur?

Weather permitting, leaf pick up starts mid-October and will continue to mid November. Pick up may be terminated earlier depending on the weather as the trucks used to collect leaves are the trucks used to plow snow

What are the guidelines for setting out leaves?

Rake only leaves to the curb (not onto the street). Do not include wood, rocks, brush or garden material. Keep leaves away from trees, street signs, fire hydrants, electrical boxes, catch basins and other obstacles. Keep leaves on the boulevard and off the roadway.

What may cause delays to leaf vacuum service?

Although every effort is made to deliver leaf pickup on schedule, delays may occur for the following reasons:

Poor weather conditions, such as rain or snow.
Heavy volume of leaves.
Vehicles parked on the street.
Rocks, wood, brush and other items mixed in with leaves causing machines to plug or break down.

I have missed a leaf pick up service. When will service occur on my street again?

Each qualifying street will be picked up a minimum of three (3) times during the program. The timing of the service depends on the volume of leaves and weather conditions.

Where do the leaves go after pick up?

Collected leaves are brought to the County of Oxford’s composting facility at the Salford Landfill site.

What other options are there to dispose of my leaves?

Leaves may be taken to the Brush & Yard Waste Depot beside the Public Works Yard at 80 Pemberton Street in Ingersoll. Also leaves may be mulched and used as compost on your gardens.

Maintenance

Litter and Debris Pickup

Litter and debris range from paper cups to shopping carts. Litter and debris is an eyesore and expensive to clean up. The Town spends thousands of dollars each year picking up litter and debris. We ask residents not to litter and to report any illegal dumping activities.

Pot Hole Maintenance

3 men working to fill potholes on the street with ash fault

Potholes result from a combination of pavement fatigue, poor soil support, and moisture. They form most often in the spring during the freeze/thaw cycles. Water enters through cracks in the pavement and from the sides of the road and is trapped. Freezing causes the trapped water to expand, and when followed by a thaw leaves a void where the water was once before. Continuous freeze/thaw cycles cause the pavement to break into pieces and when loosened by traffic result in a pothole.

The Town is doing all that it can to repair all potholes, but we ask that residents be careful when driving to avoid any mishaps and to take time out to report any potholes they encounter.

To report potholes or defects in the road:

Contact the Public Works Department at 519-485- 0120 or works@ingersoll.ca
Provide the exact address and location of the problem

Pot Hole Maintenance FAQs

How are potholes formed?

A combination of pavement fatigue, poor soil and moisture combine to cause potholes. They form most often in the spring during repeated cycles of freezing and thawing. Water enters through cracks in the pavement and from the sides of the road, and is trapped. When the water freezes, it expands, and after it thaws, it leaves a void where the water was once before. Continuous freezing and thawing causes the pavement to break into pieces and when traffic loosens the pieces, a pothole results.

You filled a pothole, but a few days later, there it was again. Why don’t your repairs last longer?

The material used to patch potholes doesn’t stick as well to the surrounding pavement when it is cold or wet, so repairs made in the winter may not last as long as on dry, warm pavement. We can’t wait for dry weather to fill potholes, however, because we must maintain safety. In late December and the beginning of January, asphalt plants are closed, and hot asphalt is not available. Instead, during these weeks, we use a “cold mix.” Pothole repairs made under adverse conditions may not last as long, but the potholes still need to be filled for reasons of safety.

If the cause of the pothole is not corrected, such as water getting under the pavement, pothole patches may fail, or more potholes will continue to form. The long-term solution is to repave the street, and in some cases, to reconstruct the street from the ground up, and from the curb to curb. Potholes are also temporary repairs. That said, some pothole repairs last longer than others.

Pavement Markings

Pavement markings are important for indicating to drivers: line painting truck making yellow lines on a paved road

Lane position
Curves
Lane endings
Intersections and crosswalks
Passing zones

Road crews apply pavement markings using a hand-operated machine for painting yellow and white lane lines, stop bars, crosswalks, and arrows. The Town of Ingersoll uses waterborne (latex) paint, which significantly reduces the chemicals released into the air, and onto the land.

If you notice any missing or faded pavement markings or have a request to have new lines painted, contact The Ingersoll Public Works at 519-485-0120 or email us at works@ingersoll.ca.

Sidewalk Maintenance

Curb Repairs

Curb defects are identified during routine patrols by Town staff. Repairing curbs involves the removal of the existing curb, the forming and pouring of the new curb, and the restoration of asphalt and sod once the new curb is in place. A curb repair takes approximately three days to complete.

Sidewalk Repairs

The Town undertakes sidewalk network surveys to identify sidewalk defects. When hazardous sidewalk defects are identified, we perform a temporary repair to make the area safe. For example, a temporary asphalt ramp is installed to fix trip hazards. Sidewalks are repaired through one of two processes; edge grinding or replacement. The grinding process utilizes a surface grinder to align uneven sidewalk joints. Sidewalks that are beyond repair by edge grinding are scheduled for replacement. The replacement process involves the removal of the existing sidewalk, the forming and pouring of concrete for the new sidewalk, and the restoration of asphalt or sod. If you find a curb or sidewalk defect, report it to the Public Works at 519-485-0120 or works@ingersoll.ca.

2 men smoothing out concrete for sidewalk next to a street in front of a residential home

Street Lights

The Town of Ingersoll manages more than 2,000 Town-owned streetlights. The Town contracts maintenance of all street lighting to ERTH (Holdings) Inc. located in Ingersoll. The contractor responds to all service complaints, inspects the system for lights not working, replaces all defective lamps and photo controls, repairs all aerial and underground street light faults, repairs all knocked-down street light poles and defective fixtures.

Streetlights cannot be relocated as they are installed in specific locations to meet design standards for ample lighting on the street.

Street lights are useful for:

Providing a feeling of safety, security and comfort.
Helping to reduce nighttime vehicular accidents by increasing visibility for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Enhancing social and commercial traffic

To report a street light out or a problem with a street light:

Phone the Town of Ingersoll at 519-485-0120 or fill out this form from ERTH Power. The Town staff will co-ordinate with ERTH (Holdings) Inc. to ensure the repairs are affected as soon as possible.
Report the street name and if possible, the pole identification numbers, which are located on street side of the pole.
If the pole does not have an identification number, report the residential address the pole is closest to.

Street Signs

Street signs are important for indicating to drivers:

Stop locations
Parking regulations
Hazards and warnings
Directions

Signs on the roadway are placed in accordance to the Ontario Traffic Manual. This manual defines the size, shape, reflective background, height, and location for all signs.

Signs are usually placed due to a bylaw regulating some sort of restriction or road designation. These Bylaws are passed through Council usually through a recommendation from the Town Bylaw Committee.

If you notice any missing, bent, twisted or faded signs, or have a request to have signage changed in a certain location, contact The Ingersoll Public Works at 519-485-0120 or email us at works@ingersoll.ca.

Street Signs FAQ

Who do I call if a street sign is damaged?

You can contact the Public Works Department at 519-485-0120 Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm or send an email to works@ingersoll.ca

How does the Town determine where to place signs?

Signs are placed and oriented as outlined in the Ontario Traffic Manual. This ensures that all signs in Ontario are the same height from the ground, distance from the edge of road, colour, and shape.

Who do I contact if I wish to have parking restriction put on or taken off my street?

You can contact the Clerks Department at 519-485-0120 Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

I would like a stop sign installed at the intersection to slow traffic down?

No. In some areas where speeding is a problem, residents believe that a stop is needed to address a speeding problem. However, other traffic control measures, such as speed limit signs and traffic enforcement, are more effective in controlling speed.

I would like to place a private sign on Town Property, am I permitted to?

No, You may not place a sign on Town property or the roadway

I would like to place a sign on my own property?

You are not permitted to post a sign on your property unless it is done in accordance with the Town of Ingersoll Sign Bylaw

Street Sweeping

small vehicle with side sweeper attached, sweeping the curb on a residential street

The Street Sweeping Program consists of sweeping all Town streets to remove sand and debris that has accumulated over the winter season. These sweeping operations prevent materials from clogging catch basins and storm sewers, as well as providing a safe and clean driving surface.

The Town of Ingersoll Sweeps:

All Town-owned roads, including bridges, catch basins and gutters.
Hard-surfaced boulevards and medians.
Sidewalks and walkways plowed by the Town during the winter.
Parking lots at Town of Ingersoll Recreation facilities.
Municipal owned lots in the Downtown Core.

Residents are reminded

DO – Keep vehicles off residential streets to avoid blocking street sweeping operations.
DO – Place garbage containers and recycling boxes away from the road on collection days.
DO – Keep basketball and hockey nets off the road and far enough back from the curb.
DO – Be understanding. While street sweeping is underway, there may be some noise and dust.
DO – Be patient. Cold and rainy weather prevents our sweepers from operating.
DO – Use the Yard Waste Depot to dispose of your lawn clippings Do Not rake them into the gutter

Sweeping Schedule

Sweeping operations begin in early spring when the ice and snow has melted from the curb line and the daytime temperatures are above freezing for consecutive days. This initial Spring Cleanup takes approximately 6 weeks to complete if all factors are favorable. Following the completion of the initial Spring Sweeping Program, Summer sweeping occurs until the Thanksgiving long weekend.

Summer sweeping includes:

Sweeping major arterial and collector roads twice.
Sweeping local residential streets once.
Sweeping downtown streets weekly.

Tree Trimming

Why do trees need trimming?

Not all trees need trimming to the same degree, but all trees require some amount of regular pruning. In the forest, trees shed their branches naturally due to shading. When trees are “open grown” in parks and on streets we must carry out the trimming process.

In Town parks, trees are trimmed to remove deadwood, to allow parks equipment to maneuver under them, to reduce the severity of insect and disease attack and to keep branches above the hands of vandals.

Street trees, on the other hand, must be trimmed to clear wires, and to allow a 14-foot height over roadways so that delivery vans and other vehicles can move easily. We must also remove deadwood, suckers and crossover branches to allow the free flow of air through the tree to reduce insect and disease attack.

For efficiency, trees are usually trimmed along an entire street. This keeps costs down and allows the maximum number of trees to be trimmed in the available time.

What would happen if the tree were never trimmed?

Over time, if the tree wasn’t trimmed, it would mature and limbs would break off in an irregular fashion, creating decay and eventual death. These broken and decayed branches could become hazards.

For an in-depth overview on tree pruning, please see the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) website.

Arranging to have your Town tree pruned

If you feel your tree requires some type of maintenance, please contact our Public Works at 519-485-0120 or email works@ingersoll.ca for an inspection and follow-up. Please note, requests will be responded to in a priority sequence.

Tree topping and why it is harmful

Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to reduce the size of a tree. Tree topping is not a viable method of height reduction. Topping often removes 50 to 100 per cent of the leaf-bearing crown of a tree, destroying its natural form. Removing branches can temporarily starve a tree and it will use a drastic survival method that forces rapid growth of leaves below each cut that actually cause the tree to grow more quickly. This rapid growth depletes the tree’s energy reserves and makes it vulnerable to disease and insect infestation. Tree topping is not considered best practice and there are alternatives to curb growth and preserve the natural beauty of the tree.

Basic Care

Keep pets away from trees.
Do not nail or tie objects to trees.
Water the tree during dry periods. It is recommended that you water your tree once or twice a week, allowing the hose to trickle for 30-40 minutes so the water can soak deeply into the roots.
Do not hit, trim or cut the bark, trunk or branches of the tree.
Be careful with lawnmowers and weed whips because they can seriously damage the lower bark.
Use mulch to enrich the soil.
Do not pile up soil, wood chips or grass clippings around the trunk of the tree. The trunk needs air and light to stay healthy. The soil around it should not rise over the bark

Planting Techniques

Different trees flourish in different types of soil. Be sure to research what type of soil you are planting in to ensure a better chance of survival. Location can also be important to a tree’s survival. For example, if you are planting a tree that requires full sunlight, do not plant it in a shady area. For more detailed instructions, tips and hints please use the following link to the International Society of Arboriculture

Winter Control

Snow plow going down a residential street The Town of Ingersoll is responsible for plowing Town-owned roads. In addition to plowing roadways, we remove snow from bridges, sidewalks, school crossings, and walkways. For more detailed information on our plowing operations, see Levels of Service below.

Sidewalks that are along unassumed roads or private roads are the responsibility of the respective developers or road owners.

Please contact works@ingersoll.ca if you have any questions about winter maintenance of sidewalks or roads in the Town of Ingersoll.

Parking Restriction

Under the terms of the Town of Ingersoll Traffic & Parking By-Law 06-4327 as amended. No person shall park a vehicle on any Town Street between the hours of 3:00a.m. and 6:00a.m. from December 1 to March 31st. The Town would appreciate during major snow storms that residents do not park on the streets so snowplowing crews can facilitate snow removal.

Anti-Icing

During the Winter Control Season road crews apply a liquid salt brine mixture to the roads to keep snow and ice from building up and sticking to the road. Anti-Icing makes the roads easier to plow and also reduces the need to use rock salt. These operations are scheduled as weather conditions dictate.

Salting

Salt is an effective material for controlling snow and ice on roads. Granular salt is placed in a 2-metre strip down the centre of the road and combined with vehicular traffic, creates a brine solution which works its way out to the curb enabling the de-icing action.

Quick Facts

Crews clear more than:

150 lane kilometers of roads
60 kilometers of designated sidewalks/walkways
10 designated school crossings

Levels Of Service

The Town of Ingersoll clears its roads on a priority system. Primary roads are cleared first followed by local residential streets and courts.

We do our best to maintain municipal roads and sidewalks within 24 hours after the end of snowfall. It may take longer if weather conditions are severe. In fact, all roads and sidewalks are cleared within 8 hours from the conclusion of the snow event.

Remember to clear the way! Don’t park on your street until it has been salted or plowed to assist crews in completing operations safely and efficiently.

Roadways

Primary Roads are

roads that carry high volumes of traffic, like Ingersoll and Bell Street
the first to be cleared when it snows upon being aware of the snow event
treated with salt as needed and then plowed continuously until pavement is bare, (note: during times of extreme cold weather sand may be used thus bare pavement cannot be achieved)

Local Residential Roads are

maintained after primary roads are complete
treated with sand
maintained as snow packed surface not bare pavement
only plowed when a single storm results in 8 cm or more of snow accumulation

Courts are

treated in the same manner as local residential streets
have the snow piled on adjacent lawns using loaders when cleared
only plowed when a single storm results in 10 cm or more of snow accumulation
maintained as snow packed surface not bare pavement

Sidewalks

Public Sidewalks

sidewalks are maintained Monday to Friday between 7:00am and 3:30pm
sidewalks are not maintained on weekends or Statutory Holidays
sidewalks are plowed or sand/salted when snow accumulates
icy sidewalks due to a freezing rain event will be treated as soon as staff are made aware
sidewalks are not maintained if:
they are too narrow to accommodate the sidewalk machine
there are obstructions such as utility poles/boxes that restrict the sidewalk machine

Walkways

Public Walkways

Street-to-Street Walkways are: plowed and receive a sand/salt mix, during sidewalk plowing operations

Pathways within Town Parks are: not maintained during the Winter Control season with the exception of the pathways through Smith Pond Park and Memorial Park which are maintained by the Public Works during regular Sidewalk Clearing operations.

Parking Lots

Town-Operated Recreational Facility Parking Lots are

Plowed within 24 hours after the end of snowfall (minimum 5 cm). A heavy or continuous snowfall may extend this period to 48 hours or more & sanded or salted as required and on a continuous basis during a snowfall

School Crossings

School Crossings are: cleared and sanded/salted as required after a snowfall

Snow Removal FAQ

How does the Town determine which streets to plow first?

The Town of Ingersoll clears its roads on a priority system. Primary roads (includes arterial and major collector roads such as Thames and Ingersoll Streets) are cleared first followed by local residential streets and courts. Primary service roads carry high volumes of traffic and allow emergency vehicles to move safely throughout the Town. Local residential streets and courts carry lower volumes of traffic.

How do I determine if my street is a primary road?

To determine if your street is a primary, use our Plowing Priorities map. Click here to view the map.

During major winter storms, when can I expect my street to be plowed?

During major winter storms, crews must concentrate on keeping primary roads clear. After the arterial and collector roads are clear, crews move into local residential streets and courts. We do our best to maintain municipal roads and sidewalks within 24 hours after the end of snowfall. It may take longer if weather conditions are severe as plows may be reassigned from local residential streets to keep primary service roads clear.

Who do I call to log a concern regarding snow removal?

You can call 519-485-0120. All inquiries will be answered on a priority basis.

Which sidewalks does the Town clear?

All Town owned sidewalks that are adjacent to the roadway are plowed as long as they are wide enough to accommodate the sidewalk machine and there are no obstructions such as utility poles or boxes blocking the path of the machine. Non-Town owned sidewalks are the responsibility of the property owner to clear the snow and ice.

Can plows minimize the amount of snow left at the bottom of my driveway?

The priority of our work crews is clearing the travelled portion of the road. The only place to move the snow is onto the boulevard, which includes driveways. As a result, snow left at the bottom of driveways is unavoidable.

Why did the plow only clear one side of my street?

The plow travels on the right side of the road with traffic and is therefore only capable of directing the snow one way off the right side of the truck. You may see the plow clear only one side of your street before they are able to safely turn around and return to plow the other half of the street. Please be assured that we will return to clear your entire street.

When does the Town remove snow piles from boulevards?

Snow is only removed when there is no snow storage remaining in that area. Narrow streets such as Duke, Albert, and Church are examples of streets with limited snow storage. Also when sight lines at intersections are restricted snow may be moved from these areas.

Does the Town repair damage done by plowing operations?

The Town will repair damage if it was our plows that did the damage. If the Town is responsible, our standards are as follows:

Boulevard – The Town will use asphalt to repair the driveway portion of the boulevard. The Town will not restore driveway boulevards finished with interlocking brick, or patterned concrete.

Lawn – The Town will repair the lawn in the spring.

Mailboxes – The Town will replace the mailbox with a STANDARD RURAL mailbox.

For damage inquiries, call 519-485-0120

Is the Town responsible for clearing ice and snow from private parking lots and plazas?

Privately owned lots and plazas are the responsibility of individual property managers. If snow from a private lot is plowed onto a Town street, the property management company may be subject to a fine. To report snow plowed on to street, contact By-Law Enforcement at 519-485-0120.

Why is it prohibited to park on the street overnight during the Winter months?

Parked vehicles can prevent snow removal crews from clearing the roads in a timely and efficient manner. Vehicles parked on the street during this time are subject to a fine and may be towed at the owner’s expense. If parked vehicles are a problem on your street, contact Parking Enforcement at 519-485-0120.

Who is responsible for clearing snow around Canada Post Super Mailboxes?

Canada Post is responsible for clearing the snow and ice around Super Mailboxes. Contact Canada Post at 1-800-267-1177.

Who is responsible for clearing snow from fire hydrants?

The County of Oxford is responsible for clearing snow from fire hydrants. However, property owners are strongly encouraged to clear snow from fire hydrants on or around their property to ensure Ingersoll Fire Service can quickly gain access in the event of a fire. To report a fire hydrant that requires clearing, contact the County of Oxford at 519-539-9800.

Who is responsible for removing snow/ice from Town of Ingersoll parks and recreation facilities?

The Town of Ingersoll Parks and Recreation is responsible for removing snow/ice from pathways, walkways and parking lots in Town of Ingersoll parks and recreation facilities. Contact the Parks Department at 519-425-1181.

How should I place my garbage and recycling out for collection during the winter?

Residents are encouraged to place their garbage and recycling back from the curb to allow snow and waste collection crews to work effectively. For additional information on waste collection, visit the County of Oxford web page or call 519-539-9800.