Changes proposed for Leduc County's graveling program

LEDUC COUNTY -- Leduc County is looking to move their annual graveling program to the fall months.

County staff say that this would allow the re-graveling of roads to coincide with the end of Leduc County's agricultural harvest. In their report, they note that their reason for considering the change is because many of the region's haulers are also Leduc County crop farmers. If the conditions are ideal, graveling will get underway during the last week of October, spanning all of November, and completing before Christmas.

Moving the program from the spring to fall would offer multiple operational and safety benefits, according to Garett Broadbent, Director of Road Operations, Fleet, and Agricultural Services. He says fall road conditions are often drier and more stable, reducing the risk to the haulers, grader operators, and the equipment being used.

Broadbent adds that there would also be less downtime due to harsh winter conditions, major snow events, or wet spring weather that have been experienced in January, February, and March in recent years.  

In total, Leduc County intends to re-gravel a total of 220 miles of rural roads in 2026. This comes after this year saw 199 miles of re-graveling, while 2024 saw a total of 182 miles. In recent years, the number of rural roads needing to be addressed has declined due to the County switching to a needs-based re-gravel program as opposed to a fixed cycle.

Annually, an average of approximately $2.1 to $3.2 million is spent on Leduc County's graveling program, which includes supply/load at the pits and the hauling of gravel. This additionally includes a loading factor, haul road factor, and fuel surcharge for their trucking partners. 

While County staff recommend a fall window for the main program, they also underscore the importance of maintaining flexibility to address critical needs in the summer. In their 2026 interim budget, Leduc County approved $500,000 for their rural roads initiative.