Alexander Leach, Editor
WHITEWATER – The Council viewed the plan to repair Olmstead Jeffrey Lake Road, which consisted of a progress report, and to approve the final scope of the project.
Lane Cleroux read the report.
“Currently we’re in the design stage for Olmstead-Jeffrey.” He said the road is classified as a “low-volume traffic road, with an average usage.”
Residents in the area opposed temporarily converting it to gravel temporarily.
J2PG Consulting recommended the Township use a double surface treatment.
“The basic scope of the project is 1.4 million, but does not correct any safety concerns.” Cleroux said.
He said staff’s recommendation was to pave the road with hot mix rather than DST.
He said that a public session would be held on February 10th, and residents “had been provided letters.”
Councillor Jackson said she’d asked for “a pricing that did not include Lefty Lane”. But it was not included.
“I understand that it’s best to include the whole road, but I feel that if we can save some money, we should.”
CAO Trembley said that they can look at ‘the length of the road.”, and that their preference was to “tender the whole project” at the public meeting.
“So it was deliberately left off.” Councillor Jackson said.
“No, it was a ‘forget’, and we apologized.” CAO Trembley said. “To be honest, we were kinda significantly shocked that the final design came in so less than than the preliminary.”
Councillor Mackay asked if anything was going to be done on the Acres Road hill to “Stop the gravel from being washed off.”
“I don’t know how many times it’s been washed into Jeffrey Lake.” he said.
“There’s a pole that’s in an odd location.” Trembley said. “It’s just a bit of a big Y right now.”
Cleroux said that the road would be straightened, but not the entire Acres road would be done.
Trembley said they could raise it with J2PG “just to confirm, as they’ve referenced the intersection as an issue.”
Mayor Mike Moore asked if there had been plans to include a three-way stop as well.
Cleroux said it was not, but they would look into them.
Councillor Neil Nicholson agreed with Councillor McLaughlin about surface-treating the intersection to prevent any washouts, and wanted to make sure that they’d “addressed that slope”.
He also requested the life cycle difference between the DST and the hot mix, for maintenance costs.
Councillor Chris Olmstead expressed support for the hot mix, citing Indian Road as “a mess.”
“My math is that to do a paved road is about $40,000 a kilometre, if it’s gonna cost 275 for additional cost. If we’re literally saving a million dollars, I’d like to save as much as I can.” he said. “I’ve very aware of Acres Road. It’s been a problem since I was two years old.”
Nicholson suggested rock cut near Crest Curve, which CAO Trembley said would be difficult due to the road already being worked around the lake. .
Councillor Olmstead said speed limits and amount of traffic would be a concern after it was paved.
“Anything we can do to curb that and improve the safety of it is appreciated.”
Mayor Moore asked if a bike line was included at all, and Cleroux confirmed it would not be widened any.
The motion was carried.
The meeting was concluded.
The next council meeting is February 3rd, with. the public information center on February 10th.
