Gravel Road Maintenance program
The Gravel Road Maintenance program focuses on maintaining quality rural roadways to enable safe travel for residents.
View the CountyWorks construction web map to see the gravel roads planned for improvement.
Types of gravel roads
There are two types of gravel roads in Strathcona County:
- Dust-controlled gravel roads – gravel roads that have been oiled. These roads have the appearance of a hard surface road, such as asphalt.
- Loose gravel roads – loose gravel surface with dust control near residences.
Maintenance approaches
Gravel roads are monitored and maintained as needed from April to September. Based on the condition of the road, different techniques will be used to maintain a suitable road surface for safe travel, including re-gravelling, blading or reshaping.
| Re-gravelling |  |
| Blading |  |
| Reshaping |  |
What to expect
- Residences located next to roads planned for maintenance will receive notice letters with project details before the work starts.
- Alternate routes or detours may be required—watch for signs.
- There is often a delay between new gravel and oiling so loose materials and uneven surfaces may exist. Please slow down and drive with care.
Frequently asked questions
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Why are you changing my asphalt road to a gravel road?
1. Why are you changing my asphalt road to a gravel road?
Permanent link to Why are you changing my asphalt road to a gravel road?During maintenance of dust-controlled gravel roads, it’s normal for residents to think we are changing the road surface from something hard like asphalt to gravel. Once the oil is applied, the surface will return to its hard appearance.
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How do you determine the type of road surface for rural roads?
2. How do you determine the type of road surface for rural roads?
Permanent link to How do you determine the type of road surface for rural roads?The daily traffic volume on rural roads determines the best road surface, which could be asphalt, cold mix, dust-controlled gravel or loose gravel. Lower volume roads (less than 250 vehicles per day) have a gravel surface. Learn more about rural road types in Strathcona County.
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My road is very busy and always in poor condition—why can’t you just change it to something more sustainable?
3. My road is very busy and always in poor condition—why can’t you just change it to something more sustainable?
Permanent link to My road is very busy and always in poor condition—why can’t you just change it to something more sustainable?Alberta winters are hard on all roads, and every type of road surface requires regular maintenance. We are continually monitoring and addressing issues on all rural roads as needed, with a focus on safety, sustainability and allocation of resources.
Further information:
Transportation and Agriculture Services
Phone: 780-417-7100
Submit a request related to road construction
Related pages
Please note: Weather can cause unexpected delays. Although we strive to maintain schedules, timeline changes may be required.