The Ministry of Transportation has 21 contracts in place to provide winter maintenance services. Five different contractors perform the winter maintenance work.
Our service commitment is to achieve our bare pavement standard 90% of the time, each winter, across the province. This target has been achieved since the service commitment was implemented in 2003. By next year, we'll report the results by contract area.
- How We Measure Performance
- Southern Ontario Maintenance Contractors
- Northern Ontario Maintenance Contractors
- Equipment Levels
- Contract Evolution Timeline
To report a comment regarding winter maintenance on Ontario provincial highways, you can contact the ministry by email: winterhighways@ontario.ca or directly dial 1-844-507-1427 and leave a detailed message.
How We Measure Performance
MTO has a Provincial performance target to meet the bare pavement standard 90 per cent of the time, each winter across the Province. The standard timeframe to restore bare pavement varies depending on winter traffic volume and highway type. Some highways with low traffic remain snow packed for most of the winter.
Southern Ontario Maintenance Contractors
Southern Ontario Maintenance Contract Areas Map - (PDF - 431 KB)
See below for accessible contractor phone list.
| Contract Area | Contractor Name | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Bancroft | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-877-979-0998 |
| Chatham | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-866-259-8932 |
| Durham | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-877-513-4667 |
| Hamilton | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-866-513-4667 |
| Huntsville | Fowler Construction Company Ltd. | 1-866-527-8216 |
| Kingston East | High Road Maintenance (HRM) | 1-866-685-2770 |
| Kingston West | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-877-979-0998 |
| London | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-855-557-8478 |
| Niagara | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-877-513-4667 |
| Ottawa | Ministry of Transportation | 1-888-362-1770 |
| Owen Sound | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-888-222-2640 |
| Peel/Halton | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-877-905-7770 |
| Simcoe | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-866-618-0825 |
| Toronto/York | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-877-513-4667 |
| Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway | Windsor Essex Mobility Group (WEMG) | 1-844-570-9999 |
| Express Toll Route 407 | 407 ETR | 1-888-407-0407 |
| Hwy 407 East Extension, Hwy 412 | 407 East Development Group (407 EDG) | 1-855-463-3109 |
Northern Ontario Maintenance Contractors
Northern Ontario Maintenance Contract Areas Map - (PDF - 789 KB)
See below for accessible contractor phone list.
| Contract Area | Contractor Name | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Kenora | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-844-362-6615 |
| New Liskeard/Cochrane | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-877-236-4667 |
| North Bay | Ferrovial Services | 1-866-840-2232 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | Ferrovial Services | 1-855-250-7575 |
| Sudbury | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-844-362-6615 |
| Thunder Bay East | Emcon Services Inc. | 1-888-636-8704 |
| Thunder Bay West | Integrated Maintenance and Operations Services (IMOS) | 1-855-680-0861 |
Equipment Levels
Did you know? There is more winter maintenance equipment used in Northern Ontario now than there was in 2012/13. Passing lanes and truck climbing lanes are cleared more frequently than before.
Did you know? For next winter, the ministry will be working with contractors to improve winter maintenance in 2015/16 by increasing the use of anti-icing liquids and by making salting and plowing operations more efficient on Ontario's highways.
Did you know? The ministry added 50 additional pieces of winter maintenance equipment in southern Ontario to clear freeway ramps and shoulders more quickly.
Contract Evolution Timeline
The ministry has used contractors to perform winter maintenance for over 15 years. In the 1980s, about 50 per cent of winter maintenance work was performed by contractors. Beginning in 1996, the ministry began shifting all highway maintenance work, including winter maintenance, to the private sector.
By July 2000, all the maintenance work was delivered by contractors. In about 40 per cent of Ontario, a Managed Outsourcing contract type was used, where ministry staff patrolled highways and directed several different contractors to perform work using ministry-specified methods. In the other areas, about 60 per cent of Ontario, an Area Maintenance contract-type was used where one contractor was responsible for patrolling highways and directing their staff to perform work using ministry-specified methods to meet contract requirements.
In 2009, the ministry began the shift to a performance-based contract model where the contractor decides how best to achieve the results the ministry requires. For example, contractors can choose to use plows or combination units with tow-plows to achieve the bare pavement requirements of the contract. Previously, the ministry measured the contractor's compliance with ministry-specified methods, now, the ministry measures and oversees the results the contractor delivers. As the ministry continues to refine and improve winter maintenance, we are implementing new contract models that balance contractor responsibilities and MTO oversight, such as the new Contractor Directed Maintenance Contracts.
