McConnell Ave. from Thomas St. to Marshall St., widely viewed as one of the worst stretches of roads in the city, may be moving up in the city's “to do” list of road reconstruction, but it won't be done this year.
Council discussed a revamped road rebuilding list during tonight's budget meeting at city hall.
“We went out for a look at the bad roads, and they were easy to find,” the city's director of public works Herb Dusdal said, saying the list has been rearranged so that the worst roads will be worked on earlier.
“We just went through the roads that basically have fallen right apart,” he said, saying that there are some new roads on the list now.
McConnell Ave. on the Bench has been moved up from a 2013 schedule to be worked on in 2012, while three roads are on the list for 2013; Park Ave. west of Kenney St. is once again pushed back to 2013, and new on the list for 2013 work are Scott Ave. from Kalum St. to Hanson St. by the health unit, and Apsley St. from Lakelse Ave. to Greig. Ave. by the curling rink.
Major work on Graham Ave. from Kalum St. to Eby St. is the only road currently slated for 2014, while there are two roads scheduled for 2015; McConnell Ave. from Eby St. to Sparks St. in the Horseshoe, and Walsh Ave. from Eby St. to Sparks St.
As of right now, falling off the five-year plan is the 4800 block of Loen Ave., and the stretch of Munroe St. running from Hwy16 to Walsh Ave.
But Dusdal said the most important item this year is repaving five sections of road.
The roads getting resurfacing are Medeek Ave. near Braun Island, the Frank Street crossing by the highway, the south end of Pear St., Haugland Ave. between Molitor St. and Eby St., at the bottom of Lanfear Hill.
“This really takes the worst roads that have totally fallen apart,” Dusdal said. “And then from there we'll do as much patching as we can.”
Councillor Brian Downie asked what work, if anything, could be done to improve McConnell Ave. on the Bench this year.
Dusdal replied that public works will patch where they can, and after the frost heaves leave the roads will look better. He's also hoping they'll be able to start working on the road at this time next year.
“It's not going to be great in the summer, but obviously the worst time is now,” he said of McConnell Ave.
Council is getting closer to finalizing its five-year financial plan, and will be having more discussion before it needs to be approved by the May 15 deadline.
Council will be discussing tax rates in its next budget meeting, April 4 at city hall. It's proposing a two per cent tax raise for the next two years, and a one per cent tax raise in the following three years after.