Maintenance of Roads and Municipal Infrastructure
The Public Works and Capital Assets Department is responsible for maintaining the road network and municipal infrastructure, which represents the majority of its tasks and the largest portion of the municipal budget.
To do so, they cover a territory of over 246 km2—one of the largest in the Brome-Missisquoi RCM—which includes 65 km of paved roads and 135 km of gravel roads. They provide the municipal services described below not only to our permanent population (4,768 people in 2024) but also to all seasonal residents (up to 5,000 people), serving a total of nearly 10,000 people.
Road Network Maintenance
The territory of Sutton covers an area of over 246 km2, making it one of the largest in the Brome-Missisquoi RCM. The Town maintains 200 km of roads year-round, including 65 km of paved roads and 135 km of gravel roads. Public Works teams travel throughout the territory to repair or repave asphalt roads, grade or resurface gravel roads, inspect or replace culverts, clean and maintain ditches, ensure proper road signage, and add road markings as needed.
In addition, each year, depending on the projects approved by Council and the allocated budget, the department may carry out major additional roadwork projects that require analysis and preparation months in advance—such as the reconstruction of a street (Western Street in 2024), the replacement of large culverts (Réal Culvert in 2024), or asphalt resurfacing (Réal Street in 2025).
Maintenance of Municipal Buildings, Parks, and Green Spaces
As the owner of municipal buildings, parks, and lands, the Town is responsible for their maintenance. This task falls under the Public Works and Capital Assets Department, which carries out repairs, beautification, and improvements based on the budget allocated by Council. Landscaping maintenance—including the beautiful flowers that brighten our municipal spaces each summer—is also part of this mandate. Many projects are carried out in collaboration with the Recreation, Community Life and Culture Department, which oversees initiatives related to municipal infrastructure, such as sports facilities (e.g.: construction of the basketball court or installation of bollards along the bike path in 2024).
Snow Removal
Snow removal across our 200 km road network mobilizes around ten trucks and crew members. Depending on snowfall, the team is deployed—sometimes in the middle of the night—and continues working until all roads are cleared, including the sidewalks in the downtown area.
A video produced in 2023 highlights the enormous and essential work carried out by our snow removal team to ensure road safety during the winter.
Maintenance of the Municipal Vehicle Fleet
The Public Works and Capital Assets Department is responsible for the in-house mechanical maintenance of the entire municipal vehicle fleet, which includes trucks, heavy machinery, pickup trucks, and cars used by Public Works, firefighters, first responders, and the administration.