Roads Program

Did You Know?

  • The roads program is responsible for the year-round maintenance of 98 lane km. of roadway within the three districts, made up of 39 asphalt paved roadways, 24 gravel surface roadways and 4 surface treated roadways.
  • The roads program is responsible for the maintenance of two (2) bridge crossings in Tsi Snaihne and one (1) bridge crossing on Tsikawehnothekowa (Hamilton Island).
  • The roads program is responsible for the installation and maintenance of open ditch drainage systems along roadsides, and municipal-type storm drains on streets within the Territory. This includes driveway culvert installations for property owners who require access from a public road onto their property.
  • The roads program is responsible for the cutting of grass and vegetation along roadsides and in ditches, in order to maintain adequate sight distances for motorists.
  • The roads program is responsible for the installation and maintenance of traffic safety equipment and road/street signage within the Territory.
  • The roads program is responsible for the coordination of roads-related work performed by outside contractors, which include but are not limited to: Street light installation and repair; Street sweeping; Asphalt crack sealing; Roadway line painting and traffic markings; Dust control application on gravel surface roadways; Asphalt paving and resurfacing.
  • The roads program provides assistance to other programs when permissible, through the use of program trucks/equipment, by providing technical advice/support related to road maintenance and construction.
  • The staff of the roads program is made up of the program manager, one (1) working foreman/class “A” truck driver/equipment operator, one (1) class “A” truck driver/equipment operator, and three (3) class “D” truck driver/equipment operators. These employees are expected to be on-call for overtime work at night, on weekends and holidays as required.
  • The program staff receives training through the Ontario Good Roads Association’s road school, at the University of Guelph. The courses taken are specific to road maintenance and construction, and provide valuable insight into proper methods, procedures for road maintenance, construction and workplace safety, equipment maintenance, winter road maintenance, along with the latest in roads-related materials/products available today. Training is also provided through the Ontario Public Works Academy, which is very similar to the Guelph road school. Staff are also required to complete defensive driver training for heavy trucks and Equipment, 1st Aid/CPR training and WHMIS training on an annual basis.
  • The roads program manager and foreman are certified as road superintendents through the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors, having met the highest levels of competence and standards of road maintenance personnel in the Province of Ontario.
  • The roads program operates on an annual budget of nearly $900,000.00 for maintenance operations. Most of this funding comes from the Federal Government, through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
  • While the Ontario Ministry of Transportation provides an annual subsidy to Akwesasne for basic road maintenance operations of just over $56,000.00, the Province of Quebec, where 2/3 of the roadways in Akwesasne are located, does not contribute any dollars to Akwesasne for road maintenance.
  • The roads program provides regular reports to the Department Director and Portfolio Chiefs, on tasks completed and challenges faced by the program. The program also provides quarterly expenditure reports to the Finance office, to ensure accountability. The program also provides annual reports to Council, as well as funding sources, detailing the program’s activities throughout the year.

 

 

CONTACT:

Stanley Jacobs, Roads Program Manager
Department of Infrastructure, Housing & Environment
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
14 Ford Lane
Akwesasne, Ontario K6H-0G5
Tel: (613) 938-5476
Alt. Telephone: (613) 575-2250