South Frontenac Road needs study

Wilma Kenny | Dec 21, 2022

In April of this year, WSP Golder engineers visually inspected 564 Township road segments which included road ID, location, surface type, traffic demand, class, length and width. Their inspection and rating system followed the Ministry of Transportation Ontario Guidelines for Municipal Roads Condition Assessment, and listed road condition, recorded surface distresses and riding condition and assigned Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to all roads..

Representatives of WSP Golder presented the results of this inventory review to Council, at a meeting of the Committee of the Whole on December 13. Overall, the study determined that the 75% of the Township roads which are either hot mix asphalt or surface treated were in “good” condition, and compare favourably to similar size municipalities, but the 25% of roads which are gravel rank “fair”

The report was highly technical, not an easy study to interpret.

Councillor Pegrum, saying that roads had been the #1 complaint when he was campaigning, suggested that the report needed to be simplified to be more readable, and

'hit the high points. The general public needs the key findings.”

Troy Dunlop, Manager of Technical Services. nd Infrastructure, said he planned to work with the communications department to translate the technical details and restructure Appendix C, which names the roads, into alphabetical order, so residents can easily find their own roads.

The study will be posted on the Township website.

Dunlop noted that his department needs more information about heavy truck traffic routes.

Mayor Vandewal said that he has had a number of complaints from Alton Road residents about the heavy trucks using that road as a short cut from Sydenham to Road 38. Dunlop also said the study does not take into account forced roads, where the Township owns only between the gravel edges, and cannot do ditching or brush cutting without the owner’s permission.

This study was funded by a $55,271 grant from the Ontario Municipal Modernization Fund.

“This is a good starting point,” Said Mayor Vandewal.

Council moved into closed session to discuss land acquisition (Loughborough landfill) and staff-related issues.