Driving the future: How innovation is changing your daily ride

Our Works Department keeps everyday life running by managing waste, delivering safe drinking water, and running and maintaining sewer systems. But that’s only part of the story. Behind the scenes, we are shaping the future of how people move by planning, designing, building and maintaining Regional roads.

Regional roads connect local roads to provincial highways and help us move across Durham Region. Our Works Department looks after these roads to keep them safe and running smoothly. Innovative tools are making travel easier and more reliable for residents, but how are we using innovation to improve the journey even more?

Recycling roads a smarter way

Hot-In-Place Recycling (HIR) technology is a method that rehabilitates roads by heating, milling and reusing 100 per cent of the asphalt already on site, instead of bringing in all new materials. Unlike traditional methods, which rely on continuous deliveries and can cause delays, this approach is faster and creates less waste.

We piloted HIR in 2025 and have already used it on about 11 kilometres of roads in Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, and Scugog with roads reopening to traffic within minutes.

“We are always looking for better, more innovative ways to build and maintain our roads while reducing our impact on the environment,” shared Ben McWade, Manager, Construction and Management Services. “Recycling is a high priority for the Region, and technologies like Hot-In-Place Recycling helps us reuse materials, cut waste and build more sustainably.”

This innovative work helped us win the 2025 Good Roads’ Municipal Paving Project of the Year Award. By cutting waste, lowering emissions and working more efficiently, this approach shows how new ideas can make a real difference. We are leading the way in building better, more sustainable roads.

AI that keeps you rolling

Our Works Department is always working to keep roads smooth and safe. Now, we’re using AI to help detect potholes earlier, so crews can respond more quickly, improving road conditions for residents.

We use ROVER, an AI-powered tool. Over the last six months, ROVER has helped detect over 2,700 potential potholes, with crews completing repairs on about 1,000 confirmed holes. Our five Works depots fill about 1,300 potholes each month—adding up to 7,800 in the past half year.

Without this technology, finding potholes relies on inspections and resident reports, which can take time and let damage worsen. By spotting problems sooner, ROVER helps us stay ahead of repairs and keep roads in better condition year-round.

Better roads ahead

Connected and vibrant communities are a key focus of our 10-year Strategic Plan. We are taking a proactive and responsible approach to growth and infrastructure by using modern technologies that make daily travel easier and help residents get home safely.  

By investing in smart, forward-thinking solutions, Durham Region is doing more than keeping up, we’re leading the way. Using technologies like AI and innovative road repair methods means we can fix problems faster, keep roads in better shape, and make it easier to get around the Region.

This focus on innovation is one of the reasons we were named Intelligent Community of the Year. We’re using technology to improve services and make everyday life better for our residents, even in the places you may not expect.

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