THUNDER BAY – A number of highway maintenance contracts in Northwestern Ontario are undergoing significant changes to ensure more oversight on snow clearing and other duties.
Under a new ministry-directed maintenance contract model, ministry staff will patrol roadways and direct the contractors’ activities during and after winter storms.
Three contracts are affected locally, including agreements with IMOS in the Marathon and Kakabeka Falls areas, and Emcon Services in Thunder Bay East.
The contractor and its employees will remain responsible for plowing the highways and spreading sand and salt. Emcon will also be responsible for directing maintenance under its deal with the MTO.
The MTO says drivers will see more contractor equipment and staff under the new models, which will lead to improvements in winter maintenance.
The new contracts have five-year terms.
