ERIN – Mayor Allan Alls has given up his bid to have the 8th Line just south of Dundas Street remain open this winter.
Road Superintendent Greg Delfosse, who closed the section known as Manchie’s Hill last winter and again recently due to safety concerns, provided a report Dec. 18 on possible options.
He said a sanding truck had gone into the ditch to avoid oncoming traffic on the hill, which has a 10 per cent grade and two switch backs, and 30-tonne graders have slid down sections of the hill with their blades lowered enough to raise the front wheels off the ground.
He also said school buses and the Erin fire department will not use the road in winter.
“There is a roll-over risk,” said Delfosse, noting mild winter weather is a problem on gravel roads when the snow surface turns to ice.
Possible improvements
Possible improvements in the area include surface treatment for $20,000, asphalt paving for $50,000 or total road realignment (with land purchases, major forestry work, up to 100,000 tonnes of fill and 200 tonnes of gravel) costing several hundred thousand dollars.
Delfosse acknowledged a “small push back” from some residents of the 20 homes on Erinwood Drive and 20 other homes on 8th Line, but said their alternative route to Erin village via County Road 124 was a “negligible” inconvenience.
He said considering the small volume of traffic on the hill, it was not worthwhile for staff to close the road only when conditions are poor.
“We’ll leave it for now,” said Alls.
