Road Maintenance

Potholes usually occur in the spring when frost develops and snow is melting. Residents are warned to be careful when going through puddles because they can hide potholes. The Town does not repair potholes in driveways and private parking lots.

Specific to potholes, the minimum maintenance standard sets out the tolerances pertaining to the maximum size (area) and depth a pothole can be before a repair is required. It also sets out the amount of time that is allowed to pass before the repair must be completed and that varies based on the amount of traffic that occurs on that particular road.  The standard ranges from 4 days for heavily travelled roads to 30 days for roads with lesser amounts of traffic.

What We Do

• Regularly patrol streets to identify potholes and other road deficiencies; but potholes can develop daily when temperatures begin to hover around zero degrees;
• Repair potholes and other road deficiencies. For potholes, crews often repair isolated potholes with ‘cold mix’ which is a more pliable mix of asphalt that enables it to be shovelled and placed in the hole. This may appear messy compared to hot mix asphalt, but cold mix material does become more consolidated in a short period of time as traffic helps to compact it to the existing road surface;
• Maintain Town roads accordance with legislated requirements (O. Reg. 239/02, as amended); and
• Inspect bridges in accordance to Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s guidelines and maintain / repair as required.

Did You Know?

Potholes are formed when:

• Water seeps into cracks in the pavement
• The water builds up and softens the ground under the road
• The water freezes and expands, which pushes the pavement up
• When the water under the pavement dries, a hole is left beneath the road
• The pavement is now weakened. As soon as a car drives over this area, the pavement collapses, leaving a pothole

Damage Claims

If a person is looking to submit a claim for damages, he/she is required to submit the claim in writing to the Town. Prior to contacting the Town, you are required to contact your insurance company to report the incident. Once you have contacted your insurance company, submit your claim in writing and include the following information:

• Contact information (name, address, phone number(s), email)
• Insurance company and policy number
• Day the damage occurred
• Time of day the damage occurred
• Location of the pothole that damaged the vehicle was on
• A landmark to identify the location of the pothole
• Description of incident
• Direction travelled
• Pictures of the damage incurred
• Witness contact name and contact information, if any
• Documentation substantiating the cost of repairs, if available

 Your information will then be forwarded to our insurance adjusters for review.

Please note: where roads meet the minimum maintenance standards as set out by the Ontario government, the Town of Gravenhurst has no obligation to process a claim.

The Town’s Infrastructure Services Department has an annual Life Cycle program to repair and resurface its road network.  Where feasible, work is coordinated with other infrastructure (i.e. sewer/watermain) repairs or road resurfacing projects. 

Typical treatments utilized to maintain and preserve our roads include: pothole repair, crack sealing, mill & pave, expanded asphalt with overlay, mat replacement, and/or full reconstruction. 

For gravel roads, maintenance is scheduled based upon road patrol reports. Grading gravel roads takes place typically several times per year to remove potholes and washboard conditions. Calcium chloride is used once per year throughout the spring months to control dust.

• Muskoka Road 1 (MR 1) also known as Gravenhurst Parkway
• Muskoka Road 6 (MR 6) also known as Doe Lake Road
• Muskoka Road 13 (MR 13) also known as Southwood Road
• Muskoka Road 17 (MR 17) also known as Muskoka Beach Road
• Muskoka Road 18 (MR 18) also known as Muskoka Road South and North
• Muskoka Road 19 (MR 19) also known as Beiers Road
• Muskoka Road 20 (MR 20) also known as Doe Lake Road ( past MR 6)
• Muskoka Road 36 (MR 36) also known as Beaver Creek Drive
• Muskoka Road 41 (MR 41) also known as Bethune Drive
• Muskoka Road 49 (MR 49) also known as Canning Road
• Muskoka Road 169 (MR 169) also known as 169
• south-Provincial Highway 11 at centre line of the Severn River
• east-Muskoka Road 20 (Doe Lake Road)
• west-Muskoka Road 13 (Southwood Rd) and Muskoka Road 169 or Hwy 169
• north-Provincial Hwy 11 and Muskoka Road 18 N

Seasonal Road Updates

This information is given on the basis of reports received by Public Works operators, Town Staff, phone calls, emails and via social media channels received by the Town. Staff will continue to update the list as often as possible, however, please note that road conditions can change quickly and without notice.

This Road Status Update is provided for information purposes only, and is provided on an “as is” basis. This information is not intended to be relied upon for driving, confirmation of damage, flooding, or for any other purpose. The information contained in this Road Status Update is collected from a variety  of sources in the community, including but not limited to phone calls and emails from local residents. The Town of Gravenhurst does not verify the accuracy or completeness of the information received and posted in this Road Status Update and the information  may  be  incorrect  and/or  incomplete. The Town of Gravenhurst, and its employees and agents, do not guarantee or warranty the accuracy or completeness of any information in this report and shall not be responsible for any damage, loss or claims arising from the information contained in this Road Status Update or from any reliance upon it.