Commissioner of Engineering, Development and Works Robert McAuley speaks to the committee of the whole on June 29, 2017. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Continued rainfall is causing frustration due to difficulties in trying to complete some road resurfacing projects in Prince Edward County, according to Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works Robert McAuley.
On Thursday, the committee of the whole carried a motion that will award a two-year road resurfacing contract to Miller Paving Limited out of Markham for $1.8 million (the lowest tender), well below the budgeted amount. The 2017 capital budget and 2018 capital forecast includes a total of $2.2 million for surface treatment.
Commissioner McAuley told the horseshoe that there was a considerable cost saving by going after the two year tender as the price was “advantageous” since the cost of gravel is at a six-year low. He added by awarding a two-year contract the municipality has locked in the price for next year.
McAuley also pointed to 2017 being an odd year for surface treating due to flooding caused by increased precipitation. He said the problematic areas are closer to the water whereas the more centralized locations are not affected.
“It’s frustrating and difficult for us to go in and grate up a gravel road with heavy equipment when the base is still saturated with water,” said McAuley. “We have to wait for that to dry out. You still see water sitting in ditches which is making it difficult to get on some of the roads we want to work on. The flooding isn’t affecting the entirety of the County but every time we get a rainfall like we did last Friday, all of a sudden the rivers and creeks are up again and the road is wet again. So really you’re making more ruts than you really are fixing things.”
While McAuley couldn’t say which roads were still waterlogged he did suggest that some projects may have to be pushed back until later in the season when things dry up.
Roads in the queue for double surface treatment in 2017 are: County Road 4 (through the big swamp); Whitney Road, Bethesda Road; Bethel Road; Lake Side Drive; Swamp College Road; Old Milford Road (McKinley to Jackson Falls) and McKinley Road.
Roads scheduled for single resurfacing in 2017 are: County Road 4 (two weeks after double treatment); Massassauga Road; Bethesda Road; The Alley; Hennessy Street; Taylor Drive; Fenwood Crescent; Island Road; Morrison Point; Storms Road and Walmsley Road.
In 2018 the following roads are set for double surface treatment: Station Road; Fry Road East; Closson Road (from County Road 2 to Danforth); Fish Lake Road (from County Road 49 to Water Road); Badgley Road and Valley Road.
Roads getting single surface treatment in 2018 include: Lakeside Road; Chourney Lane; Fennell Crescent; Welsh Lane; County Road 17; Brown Street; Hineman Street; Upper Lake Street; Royal Road; Bond Road and County Road 7 (from Rock to Bayside).
