Public Works
Public works is responsible for maintaining and repairing City-owned infrastructure.
Core functions include:
- roadwork planning and construction, identifying street construction or repairs, as well as co-ordinating the pavement management program;
- maintaining traffic lights, illuminated crosswalks and streetlights;
- maintenance, snow removal and ice control for streets and sidewalks;
- installation and maintenance of traffic signs;
- repairs and maintenance to water and sewer systems;
- management and control of water quality and water distribution network;
- maintenance of water pumping stations, water reservoirs, sanitary sewer pumping stations and municipal lagoon system;
- management of water meter program and annual flushing of water distribution system;
- responsible for street marking; and
- general municipal facilities maintenance.
The City’s planning, engineering and public works functions work together provide Humboldt with services day-in and day-out that sustain our community’s high quality of life.
Asset Management
Managing our Infrastructure
Asset management is something we all do on a regular basis – it’s cost-effective, efficient planning for managing the things we own, like our homes, vehicles or other items.
In essence, asset management is understanding what you have, its value and what it costs to maintain or replace.
Municipal asset management is important for strategic, operational and financial reasons as it provides a framework from which to plan and make decisions about the City’s infrastructure.
A substantial amount of infrastructure within Humboldt – our roads and underground water and sewer mains, for instance – are nearing the end of their useful life, requiring significant investment to upgrade or replace. In fact, across Canada, communities large and small are grappling with how to balance investment into municipal infrastructure to ensure it continues to meet the needs of changing populations.
The City of Humboldt has developed a long-term utilities asset management plan that outlines core principles and practices about how to sustainably manage these assets. Detailed information about the City’s roads has also been compiled so that a long-term approach can also be taken towards Humboldt’s transportation network.
As the City grows and progresses, the plan will be regularly updated and improved to get the best performance out of municipal assets, realize the greatest return on infrastructure investments and provide good value for public investment.
Capital Construction Projects
The City’s Planning, Engineering, Public Works and Utilities departments work together to provide Humboldt with services day-in and day-out that sustain our community’s high quality of life.
Road Services
The City of Humboldt builds and maintains extensive road, sidewalk and other transportation network infrastructure so that traffic – pedestrians, motorists and cyclists – can move safely and efficiently around the community.
Public Works helps ensure a safe and reliable road network by:
- maintaining roads, alleys, sidewalks, curbs and gutters;
- sweeping streets;
- providing snow and ice removal; and
- maintaining and installing traffic and pedestrian signals, signs and line markings.
Sanding:
City crews address icy roads and intersections in the following order:
- Major (Lighted) Intersections & School Crossings
- Primary Intersections – with a high volume of traffic that give access to Highways #5 and #20
- Residential Roads
Sanding trucks make every effort to be out in the community no later than 7:00 am to address winter road conditions prior to morning traffic.
Snow Removal:
Roadways
In order to keep our community as safe as possible when snow removal is taking place, Humboldt’s streets are prioritized using pre-determined criteria.
- Highways & Arterial Roads – Highways #5 and #20 are plowed first to ensure access to vital City infrastructure and community services.
- Collector Roads – These roads connect to arterials and include bus routes and school zones.
- Residential Roads
If road conditions are icy, sanding or salting operations are undertaken to help provide traction for motorists.
Winter weather and road conditions are regularly monitored by Public Works.
Staff are available and prepared to respond when it is safe and effective to do so to help keep our roads accessible in winter.
To view the detailed Snow Clearing Map, please click here to view/download.
Community Trails & Pathways
Throughout the winter, the City will clear the following trails:
- 5th Avenue between the CN bunkhouse and Humboldt Collegiate Institute
- Through Centennial Park
- Glenn Hall Park
- Along the golf course
- Along PAMI
Residents can expect trails to be cleared within 48 hours of a snowfall, excluding weekends and major snow falls as priority goes to clearing roadways and ensuring access to City utilities and services.
Sidewalks
Click here to view/download a map of the sidewalks that the City regularly clears throughout the winter.
Street Sweeping:
Each year, the City removes dirt and debris left on roads from the winter through a spring clean-up program. This clean-up typically takes place in May, once snow and ice have melted off for the season. Periodic street sweeping continues over the summer/early fall months.
Road Improvements:
Process for Determining Which Roads are Fixed First
The City’s roads are regularly assessed for surface distress and structural integrity. Once assessments have been done, the results are reviewed and priorities are set based on the following:
- The remaining useful life of a pavement section;
- The best methods for maintaining or rehabilitating road sections;
- Anticipated costs and budget amounts;
- Cost-effective approaches which may include accessing other available funding; and
- The integration of a project with other existing – or future – work.
It’s important to note that while one road may appear to be in worse shape than another, there are many factors that need to be considered before the City decides which roads receive work.
Repairing, Maintaining or Reconstructing Roads
The cost of fixing a road is determined by its condition. It is less expensive to maintain a road that is relatively new or in good shape while it costs the most to fix when a road must be torn up and entirely replaced. The cost of fixing a road increases as each year passes and the surface deteriorates from freeze/thaw cycles, rutting, and general use.
The City undertakes crack sealing and microsurfacing a road while it is still in good condition. These are known as preservation treatments because their purpose is to slow down the natural degradation of the road and lengthen its useful service life.
It is important to understand that focusing all of the available resources on roads that are in the worst condition would lead to a relatively rapid decline in overall transportation network condition; a balanced approach is needed to ensure good roads are maintained for as long as possible, while poor roads are addressed through prioritization.
Water and Sewer
Public Works ensures the delivery of a safe and reliable water distribution system.
For more information, click here.
Storm Water
On June 28, 2021, Council approved ISL Engineering to complete the City-Wide Heavy Rainfall Stormwater Modelling Assessment. After collecting additional data and evaluating many options, the report is complete and for information.
The report includes a comprehensive modelling of the current and anticipated future upgrades recommended for the City’s storm sewer network. The modelling used precision surface details from the City’s Lidar* data and created a 2D model which was used to establish solutions and can be used in the future evaluations. The models included up to a 1 in 100-year intensity storm event.
* “LiDAR is Light Detection and Ranging”, a technology used to create high-resolution models of ground elevation with a vertical accuracy of 10 centimeters (4 inches).