Prince Edward County is asking Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario government to take back control and responsibility for County Road 49.
Councillor Chris Braney tabled a motion during Tuesday’s council meeting to call for a meeting with Premier Ford to discuss transferring the road back into the provincial government’s portfolio.
County road 49 is an 18.6 km long concrete road, which was originally downloaded to the County in 1998. It serves as one of the primary routes into Prince Edward County and is used by commuters, heavy trucks, and tourists. Since it was downloaded, the road has fallen into disrepair as Prince Edward County has struggled with the high cost of maintenance of the road.
Prince Edward County has made multiple attempts to grapple with the $30 million project of rehabilitating the road, including the establishment of a benefit fund to attempt funding the project, and asking both the federal and provincial government for assistance with the costs.
Recently the provincial government took over control and responsibility for Highway 174 in Ottawa, and Councillor Braney’s motion seeks to have a similar agreement put in place for County Road 49.
Councillor Braney said there’s an urgent need to rehabilitate the road.
“Quite frankly, always on top of my mind, it’s an unsafe road,” said Councillor Braney. “Why does a catastrophe need to happen before someone acts on it? We realize that it needs to happen now. Every day, every winter we go through it’s getting worse and worse. People are fed up with it.”
The motion passed, and Mayor Steve Ferguson will write to Premier Ford, requesting the meeting.
County Road 49 near the intersection of Fish Lake Road. May 17, 2023. (Photo: Zach McGibbon/Quinte News)
