Prince Edward County staff are hoping they are successful for a $5 million grant from the federal government.
Council approved the grant application for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for infrastructure work on County Road 4.
Director of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives Neil Carbone said staff chose the project they believed fit the criteria the best.
Given the eligibility criteria, staff believe this project is best suited to ICIP funding requirements as well as the County’s own priorities for road and bridge rehabilitation. This is due to the high traffic counts of 4,000 plus cars per day and the deterioration of the County Road 4 bridge, as well as the perceived number of collisions that have occurred on this road compared to other eligible projects.
If the County receives the full $5 million, the County would need to cover the remaining $4.6 million.
The second option was Closson Road and County Road 2.
Closson Road has been identified in the capital plan for reconstruction in 2022. Although the estimated cost of this project (approx. $2.75 million) is below the maximum funding they are eligible to receive, the immediate proximity of County Road 2 could be combined with Closson Road to create a single project. This total project would approach the $5 million dollar maximum at a projected cost of $4.25 million, with a municipal contribution of $708,475.
Councillor Janice Maynard wanted to know which staff were recommending County Road 4 be chosen for the grant, when it wasn’t even on the capital to-do list.
Carbone said he felt County Road 4 fit the grant application criteria just that little bit better, making it the stronger application.
Director of Development Services Peter Moyer said part of County Road 4, through the swamp area, was resurfaced two years ago as a “stop-gap” to extend the life of the road until proper road rehabilitation could occur. This resurfacing has already begun to deteriorate and there are various sections which are now quite poor.
Councillor Ernie Margetson made an amendment to see staff apply for the grant with the Closson Road and County Road 2 project instead, citing the cycling tourism that road sees and he said it would make for a more enjoyable overall experience.
While Moyer didn’t disagree with that logic, that motion was defeated with a tie vote.
Council then approved the original motion for County Road 4.
Council has until May 14 to apply for the grant.
