PUSLINCH – While they appreciate the “break” from construction after a year of traffic detour mayhem, residents on Sideroad 10 South in Puslinch want the township to pave the road as soon as possible.
Resident Peter Gates delegated to council on March 26, and described the change in traffic over his 25 years of living on the road.
“It was a sleepy gravel country road,” he said, right up until 2023 when the Paddock Bridge on Wellington Road 35 was closed unexpectedly for structural damage.
While the official detour route was Concession 2 to Wellington Road 7, regular commuters discovered Sideroad 10 and used it as an alternate route.
The bridge was reconstructed and reopened in July of 2024, but by then the jig was up.
“It forever changed traffic patterns,” Gates said. “It’s less now, but it’s never going back now that it has been discovered.”
As a result, the shoulder is soft and there are deep ruts in the centre, he said, making school bus drivers nervous to pick up students who live along the road.
And in the summer, when conditions are dry, dust from the road poses problems for residents, he said.
That, combined with spring thaw, “makes the road a mess,” he added, asking council to make paving Sideroad 10 South a priority.
Council had money in a reserve fund to pave one road segment in the 2025 budget.
Council opted last June to pave three roads in Arkell: Carter, Hume and Farnham, at an estimated cost of $1.14 million. This work is to commence in 2026.
Paving Sideroad 10 South, from Gore Road to Concession 1, was also under consideration at the time and the cost would have been the same. This was the preferred option presented by staff.
But council decided Sideroad 10 residents needed the break after the detour, that more residents would be served by paving the three roads in Arkell, and that services like grading gravel roads would be more efficient with these three roads off that schedule.
Director of public works, parks and facilities Mike Fowler said Sideroad 10 has been regraded since the detour was lifted and dust suppression is administered once a year.
He said roads crews inspect gravel roads once a week when the roads are dry.
“We’re doing it daily right now,” Fowler added.
Councillor Sara Bailey noted drivers travel faster on paved roads.
“It could increase traffic and speed,” she said. “Is that what you want?”
Gates said the posted speed limit is 60 km/hr and people are still doing 80, despite the poor road condition.
“I don’t see it being a real issue,” he said. “If it’s paved, it will cut down on the dust.”
Councillors expressed support for Sideroad 10 being the next road to be paved, but did not pass a resolution to that end.
The matter will come up again during 2026 budget deliberations.
Councillor John Sepulis asked staff to also consider during budget deliberations a second application of dust control on troublesome roads.
Members of council encouraged Gates and his neighbours – and all Puslinch residents – to weigh in on the proposed 2026 budget when the time comes and lobby again for their road to be paved.
“We could put more money into paving roads but that affects taxes,” said Mayor James Seeley.
“Hearing this during the budget process could expedite when we pave roads. It’s really important to hear from the public.”
