During the spring and summer season we receive a high volume of calls from rural residents concerning dust control. Your questions can be answered here:
| What is dust control? |
| Dust control (also known as dust suppressant) is a road maintenance activity the Township performs on gravel roads to minimize the effect of dust on road users and residents. The Province of Ontario establishes standards, the Township follows the provincial standard, OPSS.MUNI 506. |
| Why does the Township perform dust control? |
| Dust control is performed to help maximize motorist visibility and minimize the impact of dust on road users, residents and the environment. |
| Why do some roads get dust control before other roads? |
| Applying dust control on all Township gravel roads takes approximately one (1) month. All gravel roads will receive one (1) dust control application by the start of June. |
| Why is my road still dusty if dust control was applied? |
| Many factors impact the effectiveness of dust control. Dust control works by taking moisture from the air and dampening the road surface to reduce the production of dust. Insufficient moisture can lead to dust control being less effective. There can also be too much of a good thing, prolonged wet conditions can dilute the dust control applied to the road and reduce the effectiveness. The volume and type of traffic on a road can impact the effectiveness of dust control. High-traffic and heavy vehicles cause more wear and tear on the road base, and can cause more dust. |
| Why don’t you apply dust control more frequently? |
| The frequency of dust control application is determined by the annual Operating Budget, as approved by Council. Dust control cannot be applied in the fall because of extra grading and shaping of the roads that is required prior to winter, also dust suppressant can prevent the road base from freezing in the colder months. Occasionally, the Township completes trials of different application methods and schedules; if a more effective method is identified Staff will make a proposal to Council for changes to the program. |
| Can I apply my own dust control to the road? |
| No. Maintenance of public roadways is only to be completed by qualified personnel retained by the local Road Authority. Never complete maintenance of a Township roadway without written approval from the Public Works Manager. |
