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Maintenance Operations


SUMMER Maintenance

  • Pavement repairs and patching
  • Road sweeping
  • Spray patching
  • Shoulder grading and resurfacing
  • Roadside drainage
  • Curb and gutter repair
  • Catch-basin cleaning and maintenance
  • Roadside mowing
  • Weed spraying
  • Brush and tree trimming
  • Pavement marking
  • Sign maintenance and installation
  • Guiderail repairs and replacement
  • Culvert repair and replacement

Winter Maintenance

Program Goals

  • To meet or exceed where possible the Minimum Maintenance Standards
  • To reduce the negative environmental impacts resulting from winter control operations
  • To reduce or control expenditures through innovative and proactive management practices

Winter Mailbox Policy

This policy applies to Simcoe County Roads only, for municipal roads please contact your local municipality.

In general, if a mail box/post is damaged by snow or the impact of the snow load from plowing operations, the County is not negligent and, therefore, not responsible for the repair. 

If County equipment actually hits the mail box/post, we consider this to be driver error ,and we assume responsibility for same. If the mail box can be repaired, the County will repair it, if not, the mail box will be replaced with a standard mail box only.

In all cases, the public is advised that mail boxes should be properly constructed at the proper height and location.

If a call is received concerning a mail box, the roads office staff will refer the location, name and phone number regarding the damage complaint to the appropriate District foreman and he will determine the extent of County responsibility.

If there are any further concerns, questions, please do not hesitate to contact Customer Service at (705)735-6901 / 1-800-263-3199.

Program Highlights

  • Dispatched from 5 – District Garages
  • Patrol Staff on Duty 24/7
  • Operate with Day and Night Shifts to provide service as required
  • 34 – Plow Routes
  • 43 – County Plows with Wings and Electronic Spreader Controls
  • 5 – Graders with Wing and Plows
  • Global Positioning System records the location of snow removal and patrol equipment
  • Improved blade technology offers better snow plowing capabilities
  • Spread approximately 23,000 tonnes of Salt per year​
  • Program Expenditures of approximately $5,200,000

Garage Locations


Garage #1 (Midhurst)1177 Snow Valley Road RR#2
Midhurst, Ontario L0L 1X0
Phone: (705) 726-9325
Garage #2 (Beeton)6609 County Road 1 / 8th Line
Beeton, Ontario L0G 1A0
Phone: (905) 729-1283
Fax: (905) 729-2476
Garage #3 (Orr Lake)1773 Moonstone Rd West
Midland, Ontario L4R 4R3
Garage #4 (Creemore)7663 County Road 9 (Box 164)
Creemore, Ontario L0M 1G0
Phone: (705) 726-9325
Fax: (705) 466-2616
Garage #6 Ramara (Brechin)2492 Concession Road 13 R.R. #5
Orillia, Ontario L3V 6H5
Phone: (705) 726-9325
Fax: (705) 326-3062

Adopt a Highway Program


The County of Simcoe’s ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PROGRAM has been established as a public service program for volunteers to enhance the local litter collection activities by picking litter along County road rights-of-way. It is a way for environmentally conscious groups and individuals to contribute to a cleaner and more beautiful county road system.

The County of Simcoe would like to thank all organizations and groups that participated in the 2009 Adopt-A-Highway Program. Your efforts are very much appreciated and we look forward to working with you again on this very important initiative.

Program Benefits

  • Encourages community spirit and pride
  • Allows local groups to take an active role in the common objective of cleaner and safer communities
  • Saves tax dollars

Local Community groups including:

  • Service Groups
  • Church Groups
  • Youth Organizations *
  • Area Home Owner Groups
  • Cultural / Music Groups
  • Local Business
  • Any local group interested in keeping their community clean.**

*Details regarding age requirements in the safety guidelines. The County reserves the right to screen applications.

Groups may also invite family and friends of group members to participate.

**Only volunteers who have participated in and watched the required Ministry of Transportation Safety Training Video as presented by the Authorized Group Representative and who have signed the attached form are allowed to participate in this program.

Approved groups generally perform litter pick ups at least twice annually, typically, during late spring and early fall. You choose the dates that are best for your group and simply notify the Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator 5 days in advance of your outing. After you have completed your litter collection, inform the Coordinator so the County can dispatch their forces to pick up the trash bags.

For more information contact:

Chris Doherty

Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator

Transportation and Engineering Department

County of Simcoe

Administration Centre

Midhurst, Ontario

L0L 1X0

(705) 726-9300 Ext 1161

Under the program all County roads qualify for adoption.

Adopted sections of County roadways are typically 2 to 5 kilometres in length.

Costs

The County provides:

  • A complimentary road sign with your group’s name to indicate your involvement in the program
  • Safety vests (maximum 15) for your group members. (Discounted prices for additional vests if required.)
  • Road crew safety signs
  • Pick up & disposal of collected litter

The volunteer group provides:

  • Time & Effort
  • Personal protective wear

Safety Guidelines for Volunteers

There are few simple rules worth remembering when it comes to safety working along the roadway. These rules must be reviewed by all volunteers before each clean-up session.

  • receive annual safety training as presented in the Ministry of Transportation Safety Training Video, (video provided by the County of Simcoe), prior to the first pick-up of the year and review safety rules before each clean-up.
  • be at least 12 years old.
  • always wear a County approved safety vest.
  • display the “road work” sign erected on the Adopt-a-Highway sign post before starting the clean-up.
  • car pool to minimize the number of vehicles at the work-site and always disembark from vehicles on the side adjacent to the ditch.
  • park parallel to the road and as far off of the travelled portion as possible.
  • park vehicles on the same side of the roadway as the volunteers.
  • cleanup only one side of the roadway at a time and work towards oncoming traffic.
  • drive to the opposite side of the roadway when switching sides.
  • pick-up litter during daylight hours only.
  • flag hazards and unidentifiable items for pick-up by County staff.
  • stay clear of any maintenance or construction operations and equipment.
  • stay clear of water hazards.
  • discontinue work in inclement weather.
  • place filled trash bags at the designated pick-up site(s) for County removal.
  • close the “road work” sign when finished the litter pick-up.
  • disembark from vehicles until “road work” sign has been displayed.
  • walk or pick-up litter on the pavement shoulder, or in the median.
  • work on bridges, overpasses, steep ground, or in tunnels.
  • walk across the pavement to switch sides.
  • touch or pick-up hazardous items or any thing that can not be identified.
  • wear clothing or display material that might distract motorists.
  • use or posses illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages before or during the clean-up.
  • step or jump on trash bags.
  • stay mentally alert at all times.
  • wear protective footwear and gloves.
  • wear light coloured clothing that covers arms and legs.
  • wear a baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat and sun screen lotion.
  • drink lots of fluids while you work especially on hot humid days.
  • be aware of any special needs of fellow volunteers (i.e. Medical)
  • stay alert for and avoid hazardous plants (eg: poison ivy) and stinging insects.
  • have a first aid-kit immediately available.
  • pre-select the most direct route to the nearest medical emergency facility.
  • always have transportation immediately available.
  • know where the nearest telephone is located.

Approved groups generally perform litter pick ups at least twice annually, typically, during late spring and early fall. You choose the dates that are best for your group and simply notify the Adopt-A-Highway Coordinator 5 days in advance of your outing. After you have completed your litter collection, inform the Coordinator so the County can dispatch their forces to pick up the trash bags.

Stop Signs


A STOP sign is one of the most valuable and effective traffic control devices when used at the right location and under the right conditions.  The purpose of the STOP sign is to clearly assign right-of-way between vehicles approaching and intersection from different directions.  The STOP sign requires the driver to STOP the vehicle before entering the intersection, yield to any traffic in or approaching the intersection and then proceed when SAFE to do so.

One common misuse of STOP signs is to arbitrarily interrupt through traffic, either by causing it to stop, or by causing such an inconvenience as to force traffic to use other routes.  When misused, the STOP sign can create an inconvenient, and even dangerous situation for motorists and pedestrians.  Drivers are more likely to intentionally violate unwarranted signs.  Research has shown where STOP signs are installed when unwarranted or as “speed control devices” it does not have the desired effect.  Speeds between the STOP signs increase as drivers tend to make up for lost time.  Drivers tend to roll through the unwarranted STOP signs with higher frequency.  Traffic collisions at unwarranted STOP controlled intersections are often higher than when the intersection was uncontrolled or two-way STOP controlled.  There is also an increase in noise and air pollution levels to nearby residents as a result of vehicles braking and accelerating.

STOP signs cannot be viewed as a cure-all for solving safety problems, but, when properly located , they can be a useful traffic control device to enhance safety for all roadway users.

In general, STOP signs should only be used where traffic engineering studies considering such factors as traffic speeds, traffic volumes, restricted sightlines, and collision experience indicate that the application of STOP signs are warranted.

Written requests for multi-way stop signs should be forwarded to the Transportation Division of the Engineering Department for evaluation.

Traffic Control Signals


​The function of a traffic control signal is to alternate and allocate the right-of-way between conflicting streams of vehicular traffic, or vehicular traffic and pedestrians crossing a roadway, with maximum efficiency and safety.  Maximum efficiency implies the minimum delay to traffic.  Safety requires that the traffic control signals operate at the minimum hazard to vehicles and pedestrians.  Traffic control signals, as the name implies are primarily control devices rather than safety devices.

The initiative to consider installing a traffic signal at an existing intersection will generally arise from requests from the public or analysis regarding delay, congestion, safety, or pedestrian crossing problems. 

The investigation of the need for a traffic control signal shall begin with the collection of traffic, pedestrian, collision and geometric data.  Then, an assessment of whether or not a signal is technically justified is made using the following criteria:

Justification 1 – Minimum Vehicle Volumes

Justification 2 – Delay to Cross Traffic

Justification 3 – Collision Experience

Justification 4 – Combination Justification

Justification 5 – Pedestrian Volume

Unless one or more of the signal justifications are met, the installation of signals would not normally proceed as it would likely result in an increase in overall intersection delay and/or a negative impact on intersection safety.

Unnecessary traffic control signals can lead to excessive delay, increased use of fuel, increased air pollution, increased noise, motorist frustration, greater disobedience of the signals and to the use of alternate routes in attempting to avoid these types of signals.

Unjustified traffic signals may alter the type of collisions and in some cases increase the collision frequency, particularly rear-end collisions, as opposed to right-angle collisions prevalent intersections controlled by stop signs.

Written requests for the installation of traffic control signals should be forwarded to the Transportation Division of the Engineering Department for evaluation.

Pedestrian Signals


At the County of Simcoe we care about the safety and convenience of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.  Traffic safety is our main concern at each of the 50 plus traffic signals which we maintain.

At intersections where pushbuttons are provided, pedestrians must push the button and wait for the “WALK” symbol to appear.  The traffic signal is programmed to respond to pedestrian demand and allow for a safe crossing of the intersection.  The “DON’T WALK” or “FLASHING HAND” indication provides sufficient time for pedestrian already crossing the intersection to complete their crossing.

Do NOT begin to cross if the “FLASHING HAND” indication is on, as there may not be sufficient time to cross the intersection safely. 

When no pedestrian pushbuttons are available, the pedestrian sequence is pre-programmed and will appear at the beginning of the green cycle for each direction.  Wait for the “WALK” symbol to appear before beginning your crossing.

Intersection Pedestrian Signals provide a safety device to assist pedestrians crossing a roadway.  The County currently maintains three IPS’s located at County Road 28 and Maple Ave in Minesing, County Road 6 and Concession 5 in Wyevale, and one midblock pedestrian signal located at Killarney Beach Public School located on County Road 39.

An IPS includes:

  • Standard traffic signal indications to control traffic on the main street
  • Standard Pedestrian “WALK“, “DON’T WALK” indications, activated by push buttons, for pedestrians wishing to cross the main street.
  • Stop signs for vehicles approaching the intersection from the side street.

The IPS system is distinctly different from a standard set of traffic signals in two ways:

  1. The traffic signal poles and pedestrian indicators are located on one leg of the intersection and pedestrians will only be permitted to cross at that location.
  2. The traffic approaching from the side streets are controlled by a STOP sign, as opposed to a traffic signal.

Vehicles approaching from the side streets are be permitted to turn onto the main street after coming to a COMPLETE STOP and ONLY WHEN it is CLEAR and SAFE to do so, YIELDING the right-of-way to both PEDESTRIANS crossing the main street as well as vehicles travelling along the main street.

Speed Limit


The setting of speed limits on streets and highways is a technical science backed by many years of research and experience on what works and doesn’t work for the safety and benefit of drivers.  The Transportation Division at the County of Simcoe is often approached by citizens who feel that a change in the posted speed limit is the answer to a safety problem on a specific roadway.  Safety is of the highest concern in any project we undertake, however changing the posted speed limit is not always the answer.

Safety is always a factor.  But the setting of speed limits , is for completely practical reasons, more fundamentally influenced by some basic principles of human behaviour.  When setting speed zones, traffic engineers base decisions on several fundamental concepts proven over the years to be true:

  • The majority of motorists drive in a safe and reasonable manner.
  • The normal careful and competent actions of a reasonable person should be considered legal.
  • Laws are established for the protection of the public and the regulation of unreasonable behaviour of a few individuals.
  • Laws cannot be effectively enforced without the consent and voluntary compliance of the majority.

Research and experience have shown that effective speed limits are those the majority of motorist naturally drive, and that raising and lowering speed limits doesn’t substantially influence that speed.

The answer is no, just as people don’t automatically drive faster when the speed limit is raised.  One primary reason for setting speed limits lower than speed considered safe and reasonable by the majority of motorists is based on the belief that lower speed limits reduced speeds and collisions.  Also it has been frequently suggested that most motorists drive 10 to 20 km/h over the posted speed limits, so lower limits should be established for this condition. 

Studies have indicated that lowering posted speed limits by as much as 30km/h, or raising speed limits by as much as 20 km/h had little effect on motorist speed. The majority of motorists did not drive 10 km/h above the posted speed limits when the limit was raised, nor did they reduce their speed by 10km/h when speed limits are lowered.  Arbitrary, unrealistic and non-uniform limits have created a socially acceptable disregard for speed limits.  Unrealistic limits increase collision risk for persons who attempt to comply with the speed limit by driving faster or slower that the majority of road users.

Unreasonably low limits significantly decrease driver compliance and give road users such as people not familiar with the roadway as well as pedestrians a false indication of actual traffic speeds.

Yes, because speed limits that reflect the behaviour of the majority – keeping in mind the majority drive in a safe and reasonable manner – are more likely to be obeyed.

Speed limits that reflect the behaviour of the majority are determined by what engineers call the “85th percentile speed” or the speed at which 85 out of 100 cars travel at or below.  This method is based on the principle that reasonable drivers select a speed to reach their destination in the shortest time possible and to avoid endangering themselves, others and their property.  In considering their speed , motorists consider roadway, traffic ,weather and other conditions.

Studies have consistently demonstrated that there are no significant changes in the 85th percentile speed following the posting of lower or higher speed limits.

What’s actually more dangerous is when motorists are travelling at varying speeds.  With speed limits set at the 85th percentile speed, the speed differential – or range of travel speeds – is reduced so that more vehicles are travelling at near the same speed, with fewer vehicles travelling at extremely high or low speeds.

Statistics show that roadways with speed limits set at the 85th percentile speed have fewer collisions than roads where the posted limit is above or below what the majority naturally travels.

The local police force cannot be in all places at all times.  They rely on realistic speed laws to control the unreasonable speeder whose driving behaviour is clearly out of line from the majority of the traffic flow.  A reasonable speed limit offers an effective enforcement tool to the police by clearly separating the occasional violator from the reasonable majority.

Contact in writing, the County of Simcoe Transportation Division.  Staff will conduct engineering and traffic studies necessary for establishment of speed zones, including prevailing speed studies, collision history investigations, and investigation of highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver.

The solution is not to post a speed zone to an unjustifiably low speed and then expect law enforcement to control the violators by constant monitoring.  Police agencies do not, and indeed cannot afford to lie in wait constantly for speeders in a multitude of locations.

Written requests for a speed limit review should be forwarded to the Transportation Division of the Engineering Department for evaluation.

Annual Average Traffic Count Program


The County of Simcoe Engineering Department monitors the vehicle traffic volumes along its road by means of an Annual Traffic Count Program.  The Program consists of:

  1. Automated Traffic Counts – traffic volumes on County Roads
  2. Intersection Turning Movement Counts – traffic patterns at intersections

The County road system is divided into three geographic regions and each region is counted once every three years.  Seasonal traffic counts for each road are conducted (Spring, Summer, and Fall) and then averaged to obtain an Average Annual Daily Traffic value.  This value is commonly referred to as the AADT. 

AADT traffic values are used in the analysis of current traffic trends and growth rates along County Roads.  AADT values provide important information used in the review of road improvement projects, traffic impact studies for proposed developments, and level-of-service ratings for maintenance operations.

A simple summary of all the AADT’s values for the entire County Road network can be obtained below, free of charge.  Detailed traffic count reports are available from the Engineering Department at a $50​ fee per seasonal report.  These reports include the directional hourly breakdown of traffic volumes along with speed and vehicle classification data.

Average Annual Daily Traffic Historical Summary (AADT 2024)

Average Annual Daily Traffic Summary Map (AADT Map 2024)​​​

TMC’s are also carried out on many of the County’s busy intersections.  TMC’s are used in the review of traffic signal and signal timing studies and turning lane warrants.  TMC’s are available from the Engineering Department at a fee of $150 per report.