Public Works

We maintain our region’s transportation infrastructure.

Public Works takes pride in maintaining a high-quality transportation infrastructure that connects Huron County. We ensure that our community remains safely open for business.

Public Works

Our team derives personal satisfaction in maintaining a high-quality regional transportation infrastructure that benefits everyone in Huron County. We meet or exceed Minimum Maintenance Standards (MMS), ensure service excellence and fiscal responsibility, and engage in a variety of projects that support community development.

We support safe transportation and keep our community open for business, enhancing quality of life in the region.

The work we do:

  • Responsible for managing 775 km of paved roads and associated storm sewers.
  • Maintaining 98 bridges and 374 culvert structures.
  • Providing seasonal winter road maintenance.
  • Prioritizing road and community safety.
  • Supporting our community’s development.
  • And much more!

Winter Driving Information

Drivers are urged to use extra caution during the winter season. Consult these regional sources of information before setting out onto the road.

Public Works Projects

Learn more about upcoming and current projects for the Public Works Department.

Permits

What is a Trip Permit?

Permits for oversize/overweight vehicles and/or loads travelling on County roads are required when the dimensions and/or weight exceed the limits set out in the Highway Traffic Act.

These permits generally apply to transport and trucking companies and organizations.

Each oversize/overweight permit has specific conditions attached which must be strictly adhered to. The permit is valid only on those highways under the jurisdiction of the County of Huron. If other highways are also to be used, permission must be secured from the proper authorities.

To see our current road closures due to construction, please visit www.municipal511.ca.

Apply for a Trip Permit

Our trip permits are available online. Please click on the following links to apply for your permit:

Huron County Annual Oversize Permit

Huron County Single Move Oversize Permits

At this time we are not able to accept online payments so someone from our office will contact you for payment after your permit has been received.

Please allow 10 business days for the permit to be issued by the Public Works Department.

What is Municipal Consent & Work in the Right of Way?

Anyone needing to do work in the right-of-way on a County of Huron maintained road needs to be granted permission by way of permit application.  The Municipal Consent permit should be submitted first to receive permission to be in the right of way.

Once a completed Municipal Consent permit has been received by the County of Huron Public Works Department it can take up to 4 weeks (20 days) for the permit to be reviewed and signed off by all parties at the County.  During this period, the permit location is visited by County personnel in the field to ensure that it meets the County’s specifications for work done in our right of way.  It is then returned to the office where payment arrangements are made and then it is signed off by the Director.  The approved permit is returned to the applicant with instructions on how to proceed.  Should the permit not meet specifications, County personnel will contact the applicant and advise them of any problems.

When the Municipal Consent permit is approved the applicant will have a link sent to them for the Work in the Right of Way permit, the linked permit will have the previous permits’ information pre-populated and will ask for new information such as road occupancy dates and traffic protection plan.  Once you or your contractor is ready to perform the work as approved in the Municipal Consent, please complete and submit the Works in Right of Way permit through the link.

Apply for a Municipal Consent Permit

The Municipal Consent form is the County’s authorization for a utility to occupy a specific location/or locations within the County’s right-of way.  The Municipal Consent will only be issued to utility companies, commissions, agencies, or municipalities or private app who have a municipal access agreement with the County. Working in the right-of-way is subject to a Work in a Right of Way permit.  The cost for the Municipal Consent permit is $200.00.

Municipal Consent Permit Link

Apply for a Work in the Right of Way Permit

A Work in Right of Way permit relates to any activity that results in traffic disruption, including bins, materials and equipment blocking lanes, or the cutting, excavation, boring, filling, additions or altering in any way, roadways, curbs, sidewalks, boulevards, ditches, trails and other areas within the right-of-way.  A traffic plan in compliance with the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM), Book 7, Temporary Conditions for traffic plan instructions, may be required.  The cost for the Work in the Right-of-Way permit is $100.00.

Work in the Right of Way Permit Link

Road Maintenance

Construction Projects

Each year, county staff and contractors perform maintenance work on our highways to keep them in good condition. Find out which roads that are maintained by Huron County are currently having construction work done on them by visiting www.municipal511.ca

For detailed information about upcoming and current Public Works projects for the County of Huron, visit Huron County Connects!

Significant Weather Event Declarations

As per the Ontario Municipal Act, a municipality may declare a significant weather event when a weather hazard, either forecasted or occurring, has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadways in which they have authority.

When the County is experiencing weather that may affect our ability to maintain the County Roads at the service levels that road users would normally expect, we will declare a Signficiant Weather Event. During this time a banner will appear across the top of all County of Huron website pages. Additionally, email copies of the declaration will be sent to local radio stations, school bus transportation companies, school boards,  emergency services, and other key stakeholders. The process adopted by Huron County is similar to other road authorities in Ontario and operates in accordance with Minimum Maintenance Standards.

Typically, a Significant Weather Event Notice from Huron County would follow weather warnings issued by Environment Canada for our area.  Weather warnings usually occur when we are experiencing one or more of the following:

  • Higher rates of snow accumulation,
  • Reduced visibility due to wind blowing snow around,
  • Fog,
  • Heavy rainfall, or
  • Freezing rain

A Significant Weather Event can be issued for:

  1. All of Huron County,
  2. The northern part of Huron County (anything north of Highway 8), or
  3. The southern part of Huron County (anything south of Highway 8)

When weather conditions improve such that Huron County Public Works is able maintain the roads at the expected level of service, we will declare the end of the Significant Weather Event and remove the banner from the County of Huron website.

Please note that this does NOT indicate a closure of any road or an imminent closure of any road. Individual roads that are closed are determined by OPP and notices will be circulated via the OPP as done in prior years. However, residents are urged to remain at home and avoid driving unless travel is necessary when a Significant Weather Event is declared.

As per above, if there are any roads closed by OPP, they may or may not remain closed after the end of the Significant Weather Event. Please refer to OPP announcements for re-opening of roads that have been closed.

Pesticide Use

County of Huron: Public Notice of Pesticide Use

The County of Huron intends to control noxious weeds along the following County roadsides through spot spraying where noxious weeds have been identified and along guiderails:

Blyth Road (Co.Rd.25) from Blyth to Perth Road 174,

London Road (Co.Rd.4) from Blyth to Gilmour Line,

Newry Road (Co.Rd.16),

Amberley Road, (Co.Rd.86) from Co.Rd. 4 to Perth Road 172,

Brussels Line (Co Rd.12) from Walton to Belmore,

McNaught Line, Ethel Line and, Molesworth Line (Co.Rd.19),

Perth Rd.178 (Co.Rd.34),

Fordwich Line (Co.Rd.30),

Harriston Road (Co.Rd.87),

Gorrie Line and McIntosh Line (Co.Rd.28),

Belmore Line (Co.Rd.12),

Howick-Turnberry Rd. (Co.Rd.7).

All locations where herbicides will be applied are in rural areas along a highway in which the public has general right of access but the application does not include any area intended for pedestrian access nor areas where the public is invited to stop such as rest areas or picnic areas.

The County of Huron intends to control noxious weeds identified along the right-of-way locations noted above using the following pesticides under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada):

  • ClearView Herbicide (Registration No. 29752), containing the active ingredients: Aminopyralid, present as potassium salt, and Metsulfuron
  • Hasten NT Ultra Spray Adjuvant (Registration No. 31760), containing the active ingredients: Methyl and ethyl oleate (esterified vegetable oil).
  • Navius FLEX Herbicide (Registration No. 30922), containing the active ingredients: Metsulfuron – methyl and Aminocyclopyrachlor.
  • Gateway Adjuvant (Registration No. 31470), containing the active ingredients: Paraffinic Oil, and Alkoxylated alcohol non-ionic surfactants.

The County of Huron intends to control noxious weeds along guiderails along all Huron County Roads within their jurisdiction using the following pesticides under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada):

  • Esplanade SC Herbicide (Registration No. 31333), containing the active ingredient Indaziflam.
  • Roundup WeatherPRO (Registration No. 33653), containing the active ingredient Glyphosate, present as potassium salt.

Anyone not wishing to have the roadside adjacent to their property treated for noxious weeds should contact the Patrol Supervisor at the Wroxeter Patrol Yard 519-524-8394 ext 3411.

Note:  It is the responsibility of the property owner requesting no spray to contact the person listed above each calendar year prior to the application of weed spray.  Property owners requesting no spray will be responsible for all noxious weeds on the road allowance adjacent to their property.

We are controlling noxious weeds under Public Works Exception of the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban for the promotion of public health or safety.

Commencing June 7, 2024 weather permitting and ending approximately July 5, 2024.

For information call (Collect Calls will be accepted):

Wroxeter Patrol Supervisor
Public Works Department
County of Huron
1-888-524-8394 ext. 3411

or

Green Stream
1-905-510-1229

Environmental Assessments

The environmental assessments process ensures that governments and public bodies consider potential environmental effects before an infrastructure project begins. For more information about Huron County construction projects that are undergoing Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA), visit www.HuronCountyConnects.ca.

To learn more about environmental assessments, visit Ontario.ca.

Urban Reconstruction

A total of 16.7 kilometres of road has been improved on County Road 83 near Exeter as a result of Gas Tax funding. The urban reconstruction consists of Cold in Place recycling, which is an environmentally friendly strategy, along with a wider paved road platform and some newly paved shoulders located east of Exeter.

Road Safety

Work Zone Safety

Tips for Driving Through Construction Zones

Plan

  • Be aware of construction zones
  • For current road reports, and updates check our Road Construction page
  • Consider alternative routes

Drive Defensively

  • Expect the unexpected; road surfaces and traffic patterns change frequently in work zones
  • Anticipate detours and stops

Obey All Signs

  • Signs contain important information that warns motorists or provides essential information about the work zone ahead, traffic conditions, and road closures or detours

Concentrate

  • Pay attention at all times – DON’T be distracted by the radio or cell phones and DON’T eat or drink while driving
  • Watch for workers, new signs, traffic signals, pavement markings, or uneven pavement

Slow Down

  • Drive at the posted reduced speed limit
  • Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you
  • Don’t tailgate – sudden stops are common in construction zones.

Help keep Ontario’s roads safe; observe the lower speed limits posted in construction zones and watch for highway workers. Ontario laws double speeding fines in construction zones when workers are present.

Pedestrian Crossovers

There’s a crosswalk design in Huron County and it’s called a “crossover”. This design is being used in communities across Ontario to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the street.

The  design standardizes the look, markings and expected use of crossovers. It also standardizes the consequence for drivers who make a crossover-related offense. Drivers must stop at the yield line and wait until the pedestrian has finished crossing the road before proceeding.

You’ll recognize a crossover by:

  • Ladder markings
  • Yield line (shark teeth markings)
  • A “pedestrian” sign (and depending on the community, it may or may not have a flashing light, too)

A pedestrian crossover consists of a ladder design marking the crossing area, and a line of white triangles indicating where cars are to stop.

Here’s how to use them:

Drivers

  • Stop behind the yield line when a pedestrian has indicated they want to cross
  • Make eye contact to ensure the pedestrian sees you
  • Wait until the pedestrian completely crosses the road
  • Failure to give the right of way to the person wanting to cross can result in a fine up to $500 and 3 demerit points

Pedestrians

  • Push the button to indicate you want to cross
  • Wait for traffic to stop in both directions
  • Make eye contact to ensure drivers see you
  • Cross when it is safe to do so

Cyclists

  • When riding with traffic, follow the rules for drivers
  • When crossing, dismount and walk your bike across, following the rules for pedestrians
Line Painting

Line painting on roads is an important highway safety initiative. Lines are used to give motorists messages about allowable or prohibitive driving procedures. Because the safety of all motorists is important, the lines on area roads are repainted each year.

Line painting is a moving operation; there is a paint truck with a crash truck following behind when it is taking place. Flashing lights and LINE PAINTING – WET PAINT signs are mounted on the back of equipment to warn motorists that line painting is being done.

Paint can take more than 5 minutes to dry depending on weather and surface conditions. When conditions are poor, painting is put on hold until conditions improve.

Line Painting Tips for Motorists

  • Slow down – vehicles usually travel about 13-15 km per hour so please slow down and be patient when warned of work ahead
  • Keep back – stay at least 8 to 10 car lengths behind line painting equipment to avoid running over wet paint; paint spray guns are two inches off the roadway surface and cannot spray a vehicle
  • Don’t pass – never pass a paint truck unless instructed to do so by a police officer or a Huron County Highways staff member; the paint truck will pull over to allow cars to pass when conditions are safe to do so

Removing Paint From Vehicles

If you do get paint on your vehicle it should be removed as soon as possible. Paint used for line painting is a water-based paint and can be removed with household cleaning products. Dampen a cloth and soak the paint to be removed with cleaning products such as Simple Green, Purple Power, or WD40 and then power wash your car at a car wash.

Wildlife Collision Prevention

Here are some tips from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to help you adopt safer driving skills and prevent wildlife collisions.

 

Resources

A sample image of Municipal 511's mapping interface

Municipal 511

Find out which roads maintained by Huron County are under construction.

HC Wheat Photo

Construction Support for Small Businesses

Access resources for small businesses impacted by infrastructure development.

Image of a road that is partly snow covered in the wintertime

Winter Driving Information

Consult regional sources of information before setting out onto the road.

FAQ

Can I complete work on a County Road Allowance?

All proposed work on county road allowances must receive the approval of the Director of Public Works prior to commencement.

Where do I get rid of Household Hazardous Waste?

The County of Huron’s role in waste management is governed by By-law 14-2001, which establishes how the County and local municipalities plan and operate waste management facilities. Huron County facilitates the optimization of existing landfill capacity for long-term needs, while local municipalities own and operate the landfill sites.

To divert household hazardous waste from entering landfills, the County operates a permanent, year-round household hazardous waste depot in Holmesville at the Mid-Huron Recycling Centre and offers an annual Hazardous Waste Disposal Day event. All County residents are encouraged to safely store their household hazardous waste and deliver these materials to the depot, attend a disposal event day or consider one of the other alternative hazardous waste disposal locations.

These disposal services are offered free of charge to all residents of Huron County. For more information, contact Mid Huron Recycling Centre.

Phone: 519.482.7668

Location: Mid-Huron Recycling Centre, 37506A Huron Road, Holmesville

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Sundays and Holidays: Closed

Note: The last load of waste will be accepted 30 minutes prior to closing.

How can I get a Huron County road map?

Copies of the county-wide 9-1-1 map showing the road system and all associated addresses are available from the Treasury Department, located in the County Court House, Goderich. Measuring 24″ x 36″, these wall maps cost $5.00 plus HST.

Huron County regional road system maps are available by contacting the Planning and Development Department at 519.524.8394 ext. 3. Digital copies of the map are also available for download or by visiting the Huron County Map Library.

How do I report a dead animal or fallen tree on a County road?

If you wish to report the location of a dead animal or fallen tree obstructing the travel portion of a County road, contact the Auburn Patrol at 519.526.7231 to leave a message. Please be prepared to provide the name or number of the road, and an approximate location of the problem, including nearest concession or 9-1-1 number and side of roadway. The obstruction will be removed as soon as possible. Reports considered non-essential will be picked up during regularly scheduled maintenance.

What does the County do with its surplus Fleet equipment?

The County of Huron sells all its surplus equipment on GovDeals.

Does the County of Huron have any roads with load restrictions?

The County of Huron does not have any load restrictions on County roads. Many of the local roads do have load restrictions in the spring. You are responsible for contacting the local municipalities for roads that you will be travelling to verify your loads do not exceed any restrictions that are in place.

Where can I find help for Site Plan Development?

In conjunction with the local municipalities the County of Huron has established a Site Plan Development Technical Servicing Guide.  This Guide will serve as a guide and reference to the the engineering components of the site plan development process such as roads, traffic management, water supply, sewage collection, storm water management, lighting. This guide complements the planning processes which focus on land management, permitted uses and restrictions defined through Official Plan and Zoning by-laws.

It is intended that this technical guide will provide developers, County and municipal staff with more of an understanding of technical expectations and studies that may be required to develop a site as well as a further explanation of procedures, , timelines, and a range of associated costs should be expected.

The Guide has been developed in an effort to provide as much information on the site plan process as possible to potential developers and municipal staff.  If you have any questions please contact the local municipality that the development.

Site Plan Development Technical Servicing Guide

Transportation Impact Assessment and Access Management Guidelines

Contact Public Works

Public Works Department
Huron County Courthouse
1 Courthouse Square
Goderich, Ontario
N7A 1M2

Phone: 519.524.8394 ext. 3504
After Hours: 1.888.646.9553 (EMERGENCY USE ONLY)
Fax: 519.524.9291

Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Public Works Phone Numbers

Goderich Administrative Office: 519.524.8394 ext. 3504
County Engineer and Director of Public Works | Imran Khalid
Manager of Public Works | Andrew Maver

Auburn Patrol Yard: 519.524.8394 ext. 3420
Wroxeter Patrol Yard: 519.524.8394 ext. 3412
Zurich Patrol Yard: 519.524.8394 ext. 3432

Emergency Phone Number

To contact Public Works for emergency situations outside of regular hours (Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), please call 1.888.646.9553. This phone number is for emergency use only.