MD Road Priority Changes

On June 21st, the Municipal District (MD) of Bonnyville Council voted to change some of the road work they will focus on in the 2016 construction season. Some of the roads affected by the changes include Baywood Road into the Cherry Grove subdivision, LARA Road and Range Road 443. The reason for the change in priorities was Council could not justify the money they would have to spend.

Council agreed to remove 2.5 miles of Baywood Road and half a mile of Cherry Grove subdivision from the Rip and Relay List. It will be replaced with one mile of Baywood Road on the Base Paving List and half mile of Cherry Grove on the Paving List. Council also removed the LARA Road from the Rip and Relay list and moved it to the Paving Overlay List. In a recorded vote, Council defeated the motion to complete the reconstruction work on Range Road 473.

Councillors Mike Krywiak, Dana Swigart and David Fox voted in favour of  completing the project. Reeve Ed Rondeau, along with Councillors Barry Kalinski, Fred Bamber and Don Sinclair voted against. The total cost of RR 473 reconstruction was estimated at $280,250, in comparison to the typical road construction cost for this length of road of $75,000.

Council tabled a motion to fund the reconstruction of Range Road 443 until the first Council meeting in September. The estimated cost of construction on RR 443 is $563,790, in comparison to the typical cost for regular construction of a road of this length of $100,000. The increased costs of both of these roads is due to required earthwork.

*Information provided by the MD of Bonnyville