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Summer Roads - Summer in the City

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The summer months are a busy time for City of Edmonton Roadway Maintenance employees. Here are a few of the jobs we complete while the weather is warm.

Report a Pothole

Potholes increase in the spring and winter months when water seeps into the pavement, freezes and expands.

Street Sweeping

Litter and dust is swept in the warmer months in high-traffic pedestrian and business areas, using a combination of hand crews, sweeping and flushing equipment.

Neighbourhood Renewal

A program to renew and rebuild the City's roads, sidewalks, curbs, gutters and street lights in existing neighbourhoods and collector roadways.

Types of Roadway Repairs

Concrete

What to Expect

Concrete maintenance is completed during the day. There may be some noise and vibration from concrete trucks, sidewalk grinders and/or plate tampers.

Sidewalks will usually be closed for about 24 hours while the concrete cures. Curb lane closures may be necessary to accommodate repair vehicles, but this lane will be reopened once active work is complete.

Annual inspections are completed to determine where repairs are necessary. We also rely on citizen notifications via 311 to determine where repairs are needed.

Pavement

Aside from potholes, the pavement on City streets undergoes regular repairs and maintenance. Asphalt repairs correct surface defects, improve drainage patterns and address vehicle and pedestrian safety.

What to Expect

Pavement work is generally conducted during the day, with occasional repairs on arterial roads at night to minimize traffic impacts. Some noise may result from grinders and rollers.

Depending on the scope of work, one or more lane of traffic may be closed. Motorists will be notified by a flagperson or sign.

Oiled and Gravel Roads

What to Expect

There may be localized noise from graders and trucks during repairs. If lane closures are in place, motorists are directed by a flag person and signs.

To determine if repairs are needed, regular inspections are conducted proactively and in response to 311 notifications.

Other Repairs

Other repairs take place to ensure the safety and comfort of all roadway users.

What to Expect

Auxiliary Structures: Occasional work will take place at night on major arterial roads, but generally work is done during the day. Noise from saws and chainsaws is common. Depending on the work, sidewalks or one or more lanes of traffic may be closed. Detours will be in place as needed.

Railway Crossings: Railway crossing maintenance may require road closures, and there may be noise due to signal activation during repairs. Affected businesses and residents are informed of these inconveniences ahead of time by a bulletin delivered to their doors. Local access will be maintained up to the railway crossing on each side.

Utility Restorations: Saw cutting is required and may create some noise and vibration, but this work takes no more than a few hours. Utility restoration work is completed when underground utility repairs make it necessary to excavate part of the road or sidewalk. These repairs are generally completed at night in higher traffic locations.

Methods of Repair

Concrete

Asphalt Patching

Asphalt patching is a sidewalk repair technique that can be used year-round, making it a convenient, safe and effective option. It is the only safe repair option during the winter months, and it allows us to quickly repair a safety hazard in a high-priority location.

Concrete Raising

Mud pumping is used to lift concrete panels and improve drainage.

Concrete Slab Replacement

Some concrete sidewalk segments are cracked, broken or in otherwise poor condition. Concrete sidewalk slabs are replaced during the summer and fall. Concrete slabs are also replaced when asphalt patching is used to temporarily repair unsafe sidewalks during the winter months.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Some sidewalks in mature neighbourhoods are reconstructed as part of neighbourhood renewal.

Ornamental Sidewalk Restoration

Repair of ornamental sidewalks, including paving stones.

Trip Hazard Control

We minimize tripping hazards on concrete sidewalks by grinding down protrusions and areas of uneven settlement.

Road and Sidewalk Closures

Pavement

Asphalt Grinding and Overlay

The existing asphalt is ground down and replaced by a new layer of asphalt.

Asphalt Overlay

A new layer of asphalt pavement is placed over the old pavement.

Base Repairs

If the material below the asphalt is compromised and causing road deterioration, base repairs must be completed prior to asphalt placement. The compromised material is removed and new base material, typically recycled crushed asphalt and concrete, is installed and compacted.

Cold Mix Asphalt Repair

Pre-mixed asphalt is poured into a pothole or wide crack and packed as tightly as possible.

Crack Sealing

Cracks are routed, cleaned and filled with sealant to prevent water penetration and extend the life of the pavement.

Hot Mix Asphalt Repair

Pavement around a pothole is excavated, then filled, compacted and sealed with hot asphalt.

Spray Injection

An asphalt emulsion and chip mixture is sprayed into the repair area and hardens.

Slurry Seal/Micro-Surfacing

The application of a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, aggregate (very small crushed rock), and additives to an existing asphalt pavement surface.

Road Closures

Oiled and Gravel Roads

Gravel and oiled roads are scattered throughout the city and its outskirts. Like asphalt roads, oiled and gravel roads require regular maintenance to keep them safe for motorists.

Regular maintenance includes:

Patching to address potholes, depressions, bumps or edge failures
Dust control, including the application of dust control products
Grading to help keep these roadways passable

Other Repairs

Auxiliary Structures

Structures adjacent to the road, such as:

Barrier walls
Brick and pavings stones
Stairs
Street furniture

Repairs are made to these structures as needed during the summer months. Crews inspect structures and respond to 311 notifications to determine if repairs are needed.

Road and Sidewalk Closures

Ditch

Maintenance includes:

Inspection
Cleaning
Ensuring culvert ends are exposed

To determine if repairs are needed, regular inspections are conducted proactively and in response to 311 notifications.

Railway Crossing

Occasional railway crossing maintenance and repairs are required, including removal or replacement, signal maintenance, or repairs from accidents or vandalism.

Current Traffic Disruptions

After work is completed on underground utilities, Parks and Roads Services will complete surface restorations as they are assigned on the OSCAM permit. If surface restoration is not assigned to Parks and Roads Services, it will be carried out by another service provider.

Utility Restorations

If you see a hole in the road or sidewalk surrounded by barricades marked by a utility provider like EPCOR or ATCO, it’s probably utility work or restorations. This type of work can cause small traffic disruptions, such as sidewalk or single-lane closures.

Closures

For More Information

Roadway Maintenance

Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311

TTY	780-944-5555
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