Residents on Sideroad 6 of old Maryborough Township have watched their road get worse over the years, but now they say it is downright unsafe at times.
On March 27, Trevor Misch presented council with a petition from 22 residents living on Sideroad 6 between Concession 8 and County Road 8.
He said along that 1.5-mile stretch there are 37 residents and lots there for three more homes. Misch acknowledged he knew when he moved there the road was gravel, but said it keeps deteriorating.
“In years past, after typical grader maintenance and dust control, the road would remain relatively free of potholes and ruts for several weeks before showing signs of wear and tear,” he said in a written statement to council.
“In the past few years the same grader maintenance treatment would result in only a few days of smooth road surface before potholes and ruts would begin developing again.”
Misch said there are 23 licenced drivers living on the stretch of road, and with the weird weather lately, there are days it is very unsafe.
He said he almost had an accident there by losing control of his vehicle, and several of his neighbours have told him similar stories.
“All our concerns are the same,” he said, adding it is “primarily safety.”
He said the road might be normal one day, but that depends on the weather. He said this spring is “the worst in years,” and added at times it is “ridiculously messy.”
He said while driving only 60km/h his vehicle suddenly turned sideways.
Misch said he is unsure why the road is suddenly worse, but added it could be due to increased traffic, or simply that heavier trucks are travelling on it, but, “The road is losing its ability to handle traffic.”
He added his neighbours like to walk on the sideroad, but this spring it is “too messy and too dangerous to walk on.” Misch said paving it would be one solution.
Mayor Bruce Whale told Misch this is the year Mapleton will work on roads on the old Maryborough side of the township.
Whale said the issue is trying to build up the road’s base. He explained many of Mapleton’s roads were not built well in the early days, but to dig them up and rebuild them from scratch is too expensive, so the township is trying to build them up with gravel.
Whale also noted the township’s road tour will be early this year and council and staff will take a look at that section. But, he said, there are “no guarantees.”
The mayor concluded, “I know it has been a particularly bad winter on our roads.”
