top of page

Town council approves Concession 8 North repairs, bumps Concession 6 North ahead on list

Writer's picture: Ron GiofuRon Giofu

Updated: Dec 17, 2024


Town council approved numerous road and infrastructure projects in the 2025 budget, including Concession 8 North.

 As part of the 2025 budget deliberations, Amherstburg town council approved $2.9 million of roadwork for Concession 8 North between Alma St. to the bridge over the Canard River.


As they did that, town council also bumped up another road project in the former Anderdon Township.


Thanks to a motion made by Councillor Molly Allaire during that budget item, work on Concession 6 North will start in 2028 with engineering services carried out. Her motion that $250,000 be included that year for the engineering and design work with remainder of the cost be included from 2029-31 years as part of the 2026 capital budget development.


Allaire said she has fielded complaints over the Concession 6 North. She noted many rural concessions also need attention. The stretch of road in question is between Alma St. and County Road 10.


“I don’t want to see the 6th get pushed back even further,” she said.


Concession 6 North has seen a fair bit of traffic due to construction on other rural roads, Allaire pointed out.


Councillor Linden Crain wanted to know if Allaire’s motion would have any impact on the town’s roads needs study with manager of engineering Todd Hewitt said that stretch of Concession 6 North had a better pavement index than other roads recommended, with Concession 3 North, Concession 5 North and another stretch of Concession 8 North due for work in future years.


Crain was also told that if the work wasn’t done until 2030, it would fall in line with other projects.


Deputy CAO/director of development services Melissa Osborne said the motion would allow for engineering and design, with the funds having to be built out for the actual reconstruction of the road.


Allaire pointed out Mayor Michael Prue said in his inaugural address that Concession 6 North would get done this term.


“I can’t even see it in the five-year forecast right now. That’s a little disheartening for me,” said Allaire. “I want to make sure the county folks get their roads done. It’s a high priority for me.”


Councillor Don McArthur wanted to know how long of a time period can go between an engineering report and actual construction. Hewitt said ideally construction would occur the next year, but inspection time would have to be in the year of construction. Osborne added budgeting can be done in a way where council can pre-approve funding that aligns with the actual delivery of the project.


Councillor Peter Courtney said he wouldn’t oppose $250,000 in 2028 but other totals are “massive” on the list. His concern was over the breakdown of costs, what is covered by grants and how much reserves would have to be replenished. He also pointed out Concessions 6 and 8 North were used heavily when other nearby roads and bridges were under construction.

Hewitt said risk indexes can be used in conjunction with pavement condition indexes when assessing roads.


Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb “was a little bit hesitant” about council picking what roads to do, believing it could politicize the discussion.


“I just fear we just start picking and choosing roads rather than have engineers tell us what to do,” said Gibb.


Gibb supported Allaire’s motion but emphasized it gives him “hesitancy.”


Mayor Michael Prue said town council has done something like this before, as they moved H. Murray Smith Centennial Park restoration work forward.

Prue supported Allaire’s motion, noting he did make the promise.


“I’ve driven on it recently and it’s like a washboard. I can understand their frustration,” said Prue. “All that’s happening is we’re going to do the study and build it out when we have the money.”


McArthur supported the motion stating the engineering report would “continue to hold water” for a few years, if necessary. He pointed out the work that needs to be done on concession roads “and we’re trying to do the best we can to pick them off.”


Other highlights of the 2025 capital budget include $232,500 for asset management and Laserfiche replacement software, $160,000 towards the annual bridge maintenance program, $310,000 towards a surface for a surface treatment program, $60,000 for the development of the Howard Industrial Secondary Plan road network, $1,020,000 for culverts on Concession 6 North and Concession 7 South, $175,000 for the sidewalk replacement plan, $965,000 for the town’s mill and pave program, $1.125 million on a watermain upgrade in the area of Linden Court/McCurdy Ave. and Oak Court, $300,000 for the water meter exchange program, $150,000 for the engineering on a Richmond St. sewer replacement project with the construction to be in 2026, $313,000 for a pumping station on Lakewood Dr., $275,000 and $250,000 for maintenance at the wastewater and water treatment plants, $80,000 for upgrades at the Big Creek sewage plant, $100,000 towards a water network master plan, and $1,328,000 for replacements and maintenance to the town’s fleet.


Some of the other costs also include $100,000 for a new boiler at the Libro Centre, the first $50,000 towards the eventual replacement of the artificial turf at the Libro Centre, the first $12,000 towards premier baseball diamond upgrades, $165,000 for a new roof at the police station, $150,000 to save for a new Libro Centre parking lot, $100,000 for Pat Thrasher Park improvements including a basketball key, $530,000 that had already been committed for possible H. Murray Smith Centennial Park tennis courts, $150,000 for future parking lots in parks, $100,000 for new light fixtures in King’s Navy Yard Park, $350,000 for playground equipment at Malden Centre Park and $275,000 for a granular multi-use trail in Jack Purdie Park.


By Ron Giofu

コメント

5つ星のうち0と評価されています。
まだ評価がありません

評価を追加
bottom of page