On Tuesday, October 15, Haldimand County staff and members of Council gathered in Dunnville on Tamarac St. to witness the last section of road in the gravel conversion program be completed 18 years ahead of schedule – a major milestone.
The Granular Road Conversion Program was launched in 2002 as part of a maintenance plan in Roads Operations and became an official Capital Budget item under Engineering Services in 2009. As a top priority of Council for many years, the program set out a plan to convert 197 sections of road from gravel to hard surface, representing 406 kms of roadways and a total lifetime cost of $45.3 million.
During the course of the program road sections were ranked using four criteria: traffic volume, housing density, connections to other roadways and required maintenance efforts which determined their priority in the conversion schedule.
Originally the program was scheduled to be complete by 2042 but through a series of improvements to the conversion process and funding accelerations approved by Council, the timeline was shortened by 18 years.
The final 100m stretch of Tamarac St. (from Main St. E to Front St.) has re-opened to vehicular traffic, however, sidewalk construction and landscape restoration will continue over the next few weeks so crews will still be on site.
“Through projects like the Gravel Road Conversion Program, we are seeing firsthand the positive impact of investing in our infrastructure. Well-maintained roads mean safer travel for families, smoother commutes for workers, and better connections between our neighborhoods and businesses. By prioritizing these improvements, we are building an even stronger, more connected future for everyone in our community,” stated Haldimand County Mayor Bentley.
Photo (left to right): Councillor Stu Patterson, Councillor Rob Shirton, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley, Tyson Haedrich (General Manager, Engineering & Capital Works), Cathy Case (Chief Administrative Officer), Councillor John Metcalfe, Councillor Patrick O'Neill, Kris Franklin (Manager, Engineering & Capital Works)
