A small bridge over a narrow creek with calm water, surrounded by green grass and wildflowers, with a road and dense trees in the background.

Public Works and Roads

The Township of Alnwick/Haldimand Public Works Department maintains and constructs our roads and sidewalks. The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance and construction of over 487km of municipal roads.

General Information

  • The Alnwick/Haldimand Township Public Works Department has launched a new 24-hour, seven day a week emergency phone number.  The number can be used by the public to alert the Township Public Works Department about fallen trees, flooding, washouts or any road emergencies.

  • You can read our Road Needs Study to learn about how we assess the condition of our roads and identify future needs.

  • All illegal dumping should be reported to the Northumberland County Waste Management Department: 555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg ON, K9A 5J6.

    Telephone: 1-866-293-8379

  • Stay in the know on road closures and our construction projects by subscribing to the Township's news page to get updates directly to your inbox. You can also check winter road conditions on Municipal511.

    Planning your trip in and around Alnwick/Haldimand is now easier with an improved travel information service provided by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.

    Ontario 511 is offered to the public via three channels:

    1. Online through the Ontario 511 website.

    2. Twitter

    3. Telephone contact through dialing 5-1-1.

  • Parking is not permitted on any highway or portion thereof during the winter months of November 1st to April 30th. To learn about winter parking, please see By-Law No. 137-2019.

    You can help simplify the Township's winter control by considering the following helpful tips:

    • Remove all vehicles from the road after a snowfall.

    • Do not place snow from sidewalks or driveways on the street. The Highway Traffic Act and Township of Alnwick/Haldimand prohibit the placing of snow or ice on a roadway.

    • Be patient. Snowplows will eventually clear the streets of snow.

    • Do not place hockey nets or basketball nets on roads or sidewalks.

    • Do not place snow or ice directly beside or blocking access to a fire hydrant.

    • Clear snow and ice from sewer grates and culverts to help prevent flooding.

General Road Construction & Maintenance

Road Maintenance within the Township is regulated by the Minimum Maintenance Standards set by the Province of Ontario. The Township follows these standards for the different classes of municipal roads owned by the Township.

The Township is not responsible for the maintenance of private roads, County Roads (#2, #23, #22, #45, etc.), or Provincial Highways (Hwy 401). To report an issue on County Roads, please contact Northumberland County.

  • Roadside ditches perform four (4) main functions:

    • They serve to drain water from the road base and sub grade. Their purpose is not to drain neighbouring properties, but in many cases, they may.

    • They carry collected water to an appropriate outlet.

    • They stop the uncollected sheet of surface water coming from outside the road allowance from getting on the road.

    • They assist in winter snow clearing operations by depositing snow below the elevation of the road surface.

    Property owners do not have absolute right to outlet to roadside ditches. The Township reserves the right to remove or restrict any outlets to ditches that cause problems with operation or damage the drainage system. Please contact the Township's Public Works Department before directing water to the Township's ditches.

    • Sweeping of intersections to remove built up sand/salt from the winter season

    • Sweeping lowers the amount of dust raised by traffic

    • Gravel road grading

    • Application of liquid calcium chloride to stabilize the road base and control dust

    • Gravel road grading

    • Mowing of grass along municipally owned roads

    • Road construction and surface treating projects

    • We try to treat between five to ten kilometers of gravel roads each year. We recap existing surface treated roads and reconstruct treated roads, which are flawed

Winter Road Maintenance

The Public Works Department is responsible for the sanding, salting and plowing of approximately 487 kilometers of Municipal roads. There are nine plow routes, three from Roseneath Depot and six from Centreton Depot. Winter control equipment and manpower is available on a continuous basis, 7 days a week, 24 hours. to respond to any winter event. It is the objective of the Public Works Department to conduct its operational activities in an efficient and effective way in order to provide safe driving conditions on all roads owned and maintained by the Township.

  • The Minimum Maintenance Standard for clearing snow accumulation for Alnwick/Haldimand Township is as follows:

  • The minimum standard for treating icy roadways is to deploy resources as soon as practical after becoming aware of the condition or of a high probability of the condition, and to treat the roadway within the time limit set out in the Minimum Maintenance Standards. 

    Please remember to adjust your driving to suit the weather and road conditions. Thank you for your cooperation. 

  • Mailboxes are the responsibility of the property owner. The Township does not clear the snow around mailboxes or guarantee any service levels for rural mail delivery. The property owner must ensure standards for Canada Post requirements for rural delivery.

    Mailbox Replacement

    Standard mailboxes replacement is available if damaged by Township equipment; however, the Township is not responsible for damages caused by the impact of snow on a mailbox during regular snowplow operations.

    The municipality will replace a damaged mailbox if the damage is a direct hit from the plow equipment; this is subject to the approval of the Public Works Manager.

Winter Road Maintenance FAQs

  • You may need to clear your driveway several times during and after a major snow storm.

  • The snowplow equipment is not designed to be lifted during plowing. During the plowing process, the blade must stay on the ground to clear the roadways effectively. In addition, lifting the plow during operation would cause hazardous driving conditions.

  • Please read the Parking By-Law

  • According to section 181 of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, no person shall deposit snow or ice on a roadway without permission. Permission must be in writing from the Ministry or the road authority responsible for the maintenance of the road.

Culverts & Entrance Permits

Permits are required by anyone looking to install a culvert or entrance on a township road. The Municipality reserves the right to deny entrance permit if the installation will cause a safety hazard. For additional information or to arrange an on-site meeting, please call the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand Public Works Department at 905-349-2700.

  • The applicant will clearly stake the location of the proposed entrance for the inspection and approval of the Public Works Department prior to the entrance being installed.

    Size of culvert may vary due to drainage requirements. Any variation in culvert size will be determined by the Public Works department.

    Please be sure that your contractor is aware of the following specifications:

    • New steel culverts only; plastic culverts will not be accepted.

    • Minimum culvert size is 18 inches (450 millimetres) in diameter and 30 feet (9 metres) in length.

    • Couplers must be a five (5) corrugation bolt coupler.

    • No sheet metal, dimple type couplers will be allowed.

  • Please be sure that your contractor is aware of the following specifications:

    • Granular “A” gravel must be used around the culvert and for the top surfaces of the entrance.

    • Leave 2-3 feet of culvert exposed at each end with a 2:1 back slopes.

    • 12 inch (300 millimetres) of fill over the top of culvert (minimum).

    • Must be installed to warrant the drainage flow.

  • For the complete list of Permit Fees, please click here or contact the Public Works Department at 905-349-2700.

    In the event that the installation costs to the Township exceeds the fee, then the additional costs will be billed to the applicant.

    Entrance Deposit Refunds

    1. Refunds must be applied for between the months of April and November, and within two (2) years of the date of the application. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the deposit to the Municipality.

    2. If the entrance is installed by the municipality then the fees, plus deposit fee is due and payable. Only part of the deposit is refundable.

    3. In the event that the installation costs to the Township exceeds the fee, then the additional costs will be billed to the applicant.

    4. Part of deposit is refundable if entrance is installed by the applicant.

    5. Deposit fee less administrative fee is refundable after an occupancy permit has been issued and Public Works Department has certified entrance and adjacent road surface.

    6. Agriculture refundable portion of deposit will be held for 30 days after entrance permit has been approved.

Entrance Permit Application
Entrance Permit Refund Application