Grey Bruce OPP Now Posting Emergency Road Closures to Municipal 511
Grey Bruce OPP is now using Municipal 511 for 24/7 road closure alerts, integrating police information with real-time navigation tools like Google Maps and Waze.
Motorists in Grey and Bruce counties will now have a new way to stay informed about emergency road closures, as the local Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment begins posting police-ordered closures to the Municipal 511 platform.
The change, which took effect November 6, marks a significant shift in how the Grey Bruce OPP communicates road safety information during collisions, police investigations, and severe weather events.
The integration of Municipal 511 — a map-based notification system — is expected to improve real-time access to accurate closure information, including on major navigation apps such as Google Maps and Waze.
Previously, the OPP primarily relied on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram to share road closure alerts. While those channels will continue to be used, police say they are no longer sufficient as a standalone solution.
“Social media posts are not consistently seen by all road users, particularly those who do not use those platforms,” said a Grey Bruce OPP spokesperson. “They also don’t integrate with navigation systems — which means people relying on GPS won’t necessarily see a closure in real-time.”
Municipal 511 is a road information system that allows municipalities and emergency services to post closures directly to a centralized, public-facing map. That map can feed directly into routing systems used by mapping applications and GPS services, making closures more visible to drivers who rely on real-time navigation.
Importantly, Grey Bruce OPP clarified that this system is not the same as the Province of Ontario’s 511 system. The Municipal 511 platform is separate but may feed closure information into provincial or third-party tools, depending on how those systems are configured.
Only Certain OPP Detachments Using the Platform
Grey Bruce is among only a few OPP detachments currently using Municipal 511. At the time of publication, the only other known adopters are Wellington County OPP and South Bruce OPP.
The decision to begin using the system was made locally at the detachment level in response to ongoing communication challenges during emergency events.
The OPP says that Municipal 511 will show closures on all types of roads — including provincial highways, county roads, and municipal streets — as long as the closure was ordered by police.
For non-emergency road updates such as planned construction or seasonal maintenance, residents are still encouraged to consult their local municipal websites.
Why Police Close Roads
The Highway Traffic Act gives police the authority to close roads when necessary to:
Maintain the orderly movement of traffic
Prevent injury or damage to people and property
Allow appropriate response during emergencies
These closures may be ordered during motor vehicle collisions, active investigations, severe weather, or other emergencies.
Police are not the only authority able to close roads. Municipal public works departments, county road authorities, and the Ministry of Transportation may also issue road closures — typically for construction, infrastructure repairs, or planned maintenance.
These non-emergency closures may not appear on Municipal 511 unless shared by the responsible agency.
The Grey Bruce OPP encourages residents to check municipal and county websites for updates on construction-related closures or other non-police events.
Legal Reminders for Drivers
Ignoring police-ordered road closures is illegal and can result in fines or other penalties. Relevant offences under the Highway Traffic Act include:
Disobey officer directing traffic (Section 134(1))
Drive on closed highway (Section 134(3))
These charges may carry higher fines in designated Community Safety Zones.
Staying Informed Before Winter Driving
Motorists can view real-time police closures for Grey Bruce at municipal511.ca and are encouraged to check the map before traveling, especially during winter months.
When planning a trip in Ontario, it’s important to know that road closure information comes from two main sources: Municipal 511 and Ontario 511.
Municipal 511 is used by local governments to share municipal road closures and incidents, while Ontario 511 provides up-to-date information for highway conditions and closures across the province.
The two systems work together by sharing data to create a more complete picture for drivers, though they remain separate platforms. For the most comprehensive travel updates, users are encouraged to check both services before hitting the road.
Police continue to post updates to their regional social media accounts as a secondary source of information:
X (formerly Twitter): @OPP_WR or @OPP_COMM_WR
Facebook: @OPPWest
Instagram: @opp_west
As winter weather approaches, the Grey Bruce OPP urges all road users to stay alert, plan ahead, and check Ontario 511 and Municipal 511 for the most up-to-date information before hitting the road.