Roads

An Entrance Permit is required if you want to:

• Construct a new entrance to your property that fronts onto a Municipal Road
• Make any changes to an existing entrance that fronts onto a Municipal Road

Permit Application Procedure:

• Entrance Permit Applications are available on line or from the Public Works Department.
• The proposed entrance must be accurately sketched on the application and it must be staked out in the field by the Applicant.
• All Associated fee's must be submitted with the completed application.
• Entrances must be constructed to our Municipal Standard.
• For detailed information on the process and requirements please refer to Schedule 'A' of By-Law 2009-042.

Where to Submit the Permit Application

• Completed Applications are to be submitted to the Township office via one of the following ways:
• Fax
• E-mail
• In person or by regular mail - 5 Humphrey Drive, Seguin, ON P2A 2W8 

Load Restrictions Outline

Effective May 18, 2021:  LOAD RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED.

Effective March 1, 2021 to May 18, 2021: As outlined in By-law No. 2018-108, reduced loads were in effect on all roads under the jurisdiction of Seguin Township, as deemed necessary by the Director of Public Works. Please refer to By-law No. 2018-108, Schedule "A" for exempted roads.

Load Restrictions - Exemption

To request an exemption from the load restrictions, the authorized exemption request form must be filled out. The completed form must be returned in a timely manner to the Public Works Department.

Please note that submission of an exemption request does not automatically assume that an exemption has been granted. Also note that all exemptions are considered on a case-by-case basis and are approved at the discretion of the Director of Public Works.

Note to Contractors

We urge you to contact our Public Works Department and advise of any projects that could be affected by load restrictions. Our aim is to try and accommodate for these situations before costly damages occur to our roadways. Your co-operation is greatly appreciated.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q- Why are half load restrictions applied?

A – In the winter, frost is driven down into the road beds due to traffic and no snow cover (snow cover would insulate the road from frost penetration). It can freeze as deep as 1 meter below the road surface. In the spring, when temperatures rise above zero, the top portion of the road surface melts, but still remains frozen below the surface. As the melted ice (water) increases in the road bed, it has no way of draining through the ice, so the road bed becomes soft. If heavy trucks drive on the road at this critical time, large wheel ruts can be created and the road surface can be damaged. The half load season is applied to control the weight of equipment on the roads during this critical transition season.

Q - When will half load restrictions come off Seguin roads?

A – Half loads are typically applied when the first significant thaw occurs, usually mid-February to mid-March. Once applied, the restrictions will remain in place until the frost has disappeared from the roadbeds, usually around Mid-May. The MTO is lifting half loads on all Provincial Highways as of May 8, 2021 at midnight. Seguin township normally lifts half loads two Mondays after MTO.

Estimated date of starting to lift restrictions is May 17. Not all roads will be opened at once, subject to their condition. This web page and our social media channels will be updated daily, as roads are lifted off half load restriction. Check back here to see which roads have been lifted.

We have and always will consider exemptions.

Seguin Public Works will allow exceptions during this time period if:

a)      There is a big freeze and the road is frozen solid

b)      The road bed has drained enough that controlled loads will not cause damage.

Historically, the MTO places half load restrictions on Kings highways approximately 1 week after the township, and the township lifts restrictions about 1 week after the MTO does. MTO highways are built to much higher standards than most municipal roads, so they are less prone to heavy load damage.

Once Seguin starts lifting load restrictions on major roads in the township, a list of opened roads will be updated daily on our website and social media. Some roads such as secondary roads leading to dead ends etc. will not be opened until Seguin staff identifies they are ready, which could be weeks after the first roads are open, due to soft road conditions. Roads with significant tree canopy cover are the last roads to be opened because they do not get enough sun to dry/thaw them out quickly.

Prohibited Parking

Schedule I of Consolidated By-Law No. 2005-164 (as amended by By-Laws No. 2006-112, 2009-081 and 2010-081) lists specific areas in Seguin Township where it has been deemed necessary to prohibit parking at all times.

Winter Parking

As outlined in the above-noted By-Law, in order to facilitate the process of snow removal, parking is prohibited on all township maintained roadways and fire routes from November 1^st of each year to April 15^th of the following year.

Recreational Parking Areas

Seguin Township takes prides in having extensive trail systems and beautiful water front parks for people to enhance their recreation and leisure experiences. Free Parking is available in the following locations across the Township:

Year Round:

• James Bay Junction Road and Rose Point Trail
• Rose Point Road and Rose Point Trail - Day Time Use Only
• Oastler Park Drive and Cargill Road
• Foley Matheson Park
• Black Road

Winter Use - Day Time only:

• Gordon Bay Road
• Little Morgan Bay Road Turn-around 

Plowing

Plowing operations follow previously established routes. These routes were designed to consider the best service for all residents. As a minimum, plow routes and priorities are established using the Minimum Maintenance Standards set out by the Ministry of Transportation, of which Seguin Township strives to exceed. As well, school bus routes and other public service providers are a priority when establishing these routes.

Sanding / Salting

Sanding of roads is done to help mitigate slippery conditions. Critical areas, such as hills, curves, bridges, intersections, and approaches to railways crossings will receive top priority and are sanded as required.

Seguin Township is continually modifying operating procedures to minimize salt usage. Straight salt is only used sparingly on hard top roads when significant icy conditions exist.

As of October 4, 2021: MTO has announced that Hwy 518 between South Seguin Estates Road and Nipissing Road East/West is now open - 1 lane with lights for traffic control.

October 12 to November 9, 2021: MTO road closure on Hwy 141 scheduled for culvert repairs, spanning Rosseau Lake Road 2 to the Skeleton Bay Boat Launch, Muskoka Lakes. This is not Seguin project, however it may directly impact Seguin residents within the vicinity.

Read the news release from Fowler Construction here. For the latest information on highway closures and construction, the public can call 511 (MTO’s Road Information Line) or check www.ontario.ca/511.

Available Studies and Reports:

• Waste & Recycling Management 2016 Year End Report 

 The following Reports or Studies are available at the Municipal Office.

• Performance Monitoring and Site Evaluation of the Seguin Landfill Site
• Roads Needs Study

 External Reports and Studies Related to Transportation in our area:

• Northern Highways Program 2017-2021
• Office of the Auditor General of Ontario -  Winter Highway Maintenance Special Report April 2015

Public Works After Hours Emergency Line (705) 751-0050

Seguin Township accepts the following concerns after hours:

• Trees or any other obstruction blocking Township roadways.
• Missing stop signs.
• Road washouts.
• Flooded roads.
• Large potholes on roadways.
• Icy roads or intersections.

Seguin Township wants to know if there is a road that needs some attention. Please send us an email so we are aware of your concerns. 

IMPORTANT! Please note that the Township of Seguin does not maintain or repair Provincial highway roads or signage (400, 518, 632, 141, 612, Lake Joseph Rd/Old 69).  Should you encounter issues on any of our provincial highways within Seguin Township, please call MTO's NE Regional Office at 705-491-0034.

Seguin Township is responsible for maintaining year round, public roadways and sidewalks under its jurisdiction. Plowing and sanding operations begin with the first significant snowfall and operators follow pre established plow routes. Throughout the winter season road conditions and weather are regularly monitored to assist in the safe and timely maintenance of our roadways. The Township strives to exceed the minimum maintenance standards, as set out by the Ministry of Transportation.

Damage to Private Property

On occasion a snow plow will damage property. Mailboxes have been particularly susceptible to this damage. If your mailbox has been damaged, please contact the Public Works Department so we can arrange an inspection and a course of action.

What can you do to help?

• Under the Highway Traffic Act, section 181, residents are not allowed to deposit snow on the roadway. When clearing snow, please pile it on your property and refrain from shoveling it onto the sidewalk, road or across the road into the ditches.
• Adhere to the winter parking Consolidated By-Law No. 2005-164 (as amended by By-Laws No. 2010-081 & 2012-087) 
• Report any slippery or dangerous conditions to the Public Works Department

Safety Tips

• Always drive according to conditions
• Keep a safe distance from plow trucks - If you can't see the mirrors, they can't see you!
• Never tailgate a plow truck - This is especially dangerous on a hill, they can slip too!

For a comprehensive page on winter driving safety please refer to the Ministry of Transportation website. 

Capital Projects planned for 2021 as approved by Council include:

• James Bay Junction Road - CN train crossings reconstruction (2 locations)
• Walters Lane - Ditching and Surface Treatment
• Salmon Lake Road - Slurry Seal existing Surface Treatment
• Schmidt Circle & Shady Lane - Upgrade from seasonal road to year round road
• Islandview Road - Upgrade from seasonal road to year round road
• Morgan Bay Road - Finish 2020 guide rails and upgrade to year round road

Additional (non project) road works are also scheduled for this year. Subscribe to receive email updates of this page by clicking the link "Receive Email Updates..." below. Thank you.

Updated: July19, 2021