County plans largest-ever rural road repair program for 2026
Administrator | Mar 13, 2026 | Comments 4
That total includes $4.4 million in rehabilitation and preventative maintenance on 53 kms of rural roads – $874,000 more than 2025. County council awarded the tender for that work to Miller Paving Limited during its meeting on March 10. The costs also incudes preparation, geotechnical testing and a five per cent contingency. The remaining $80,000 in the County’s budget is to be allocated to the crack sealing program.
The total budget includes $14 million worth of work in 2026 – including reconstruction of Barker Street from Downes to Johnson; Bowery Street from Barker to King and from mary south and County Road 3 for 2km.
Also this year, nearly 20 kms of County roads are to receive double surface treatment and nearly 30 kms of County roads will receive a single surface treatment in 2026.
Double surface treatment is used on road sections that are at or near complete failure and must be fully rehabilitated. The work involves rehabilitating the road structure and applying a double layer of surface treatment and fog seal.
Double surface treatment is to occur on the following roads in 2026:
Salem Road, various spot locations between County Road 2 to west of Carnrike Road
Victoria Road, various spot locations between County Road 23 to east of Badgley Road
County Road 13 from Babylon Road to Civic Address 2183
Carnrike Road from Lakeside Drive to Salem Road
County Road 28 from Massassauga Road to the south entrance of Fenwood Crescent
County Road 35 from Civic Address 823 to Civic Address 1226
Blakely Road from County Road 33 to the end
Single surface treatment, also known as tar-and-chip, is a preventative maintenance technique that will extend the life of a road that is still in good condition. Localized repairs will also be completed in areas where the road structure has weakened.
All roads scheduled for single surface treatment will be re-inspected in the spring to confirm they remain suitable for this preservation method.
Single surface treatment is to occur on:
Badgley Road from County Road 19 to Victoria Road
Fry Road from County Road 5 to Bethesda Road
Marisett Road from Shannon Road to County Road 11
County Road 8 from Bongard Crossroad to Roses Crossroad
Morrison Point Road from County Road 13 to the end
County Road 20 from Civic Address 613 to the end
Huff Island Road from Highway 62 to the end
Old Milford Road from Civic Address 706 to County Road 17
In addition, micro surfacing will be applied to nearly 4.5 kilometres of roads. Micro surfacing is another preventative maintenance technique used on asphalt roads to restore surface condition, improve traction, and extend pavement life.
Micro surfacing is to take place on:
County Road 14 from Highway 62 to Civic Address 1435
County Road 33 from Partridge Hollow Road to Civic Address 199931
Rural road construction is anticipated to begin this spring and is expected to be completed by the end of summer, subject to weather and contractor scheduling.
Properties and businesses located along roads scheduled for single and double surface treatments will receive hand-delivered notices once detailed construction schedules are confirmed by the contractor.
In addition to surface treatment and micro surfacing, other contracted maintenance techniques, such as crack sealing, line painting, and asphalt spot repairs, will occur this spring and early summer.
The Operational Services Department team will also be out this spring with regular maintenance work like street sweeping in settlement areas with curbs and gutters, roadside maintenance, gravel road resurfacing, and guide rail repairs.
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I and my vehicle would be happy to have just a single lane kept free of potholes on most secondary roads.
The traffic on many roads is sufficiently low that it is rare that two cars approach each other, and then one could pull over gently into the potholes to allow the other to pass.
It would cost a lot less to take this approach. The County cannot continue to spend as if taxpayers can afford unlimited tax increases. Regardless of what PCI consultant reports say.
It would be nice if these new “double surface treatment” roads could survive two years before pot holes appear.
If you moved from the “City” to the County, you moved to rural and small town Ontario – and I’m assuming for good reason. Gravel side roads should come as no surprise, folks. I agree – we do only what we can afford. Don’t like it, then suggest to Council they have a serious talk with the Premier of Ontario to pitch in. In the meantime, drive something you won’t worry about if it gets dinged with stone chips. Oh. And buy stock in Rust Check spray cans.
We do what we can afford. Expectation of perfect roads is unrealistic. Too many rural roads were built years ago and many should have been left as gravel.