County seeks citizen comments on Cty Rd 49 to forward to federal government

The County is asking the community to help send a clear message to the federal government that the rehabilitation of County Road 49 needs to move ahead as soon as possible.

“We have met with ministerial staff in Ottawa and our local member of parliament to stress the importance of this project. Now, they need to hear directly from the residents, business owners, and visitors who are impacted by the poor quality of this road every day,” said Mayor Steve Ferguson.

The municipality has launched a page on its online engagement platform, Have Your Say. The public can share how the condition of the road impacts them by completing a short survey, or by leaving a comment on the page. The aggregated results will be shared with the federal government; no personal information will be provided.

Approximately half of the $52.3 million rehabilitation project remains unfunded (estimated at $24.5 million). Earlier this year, the province of Ontario allocated nearly $20 million from the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Fund to support the rehabilitation of County Road 49. County Council approved $7.8 million in the 2024 municipal budget for the project.

Ferguson stated last month that federal funding needs to be secured well in advance of the Sept. 30 2026 deadline to award contracts. If not, the County will lost its $19.93 million in provincial funding.

While in Ottawa for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in August, Ferguson and Interim CAO Adam Goheen met with staff from Transport Canada and MP Chris Malette to discuss the rehabilitation of County Road 49. The mayor has also shared letters of support for the project from community members, organizations, and businesses. Those letters and background material are posted on the Have Your Say page.

The surface is experiencing severe joint and slab failures, cracking, and polishing of the surface. Crews assess and repair the surface a minimum of once per week when weather allows; winter storm events can affect the frequency of repairs. On average, the municipality states, crews use three tonnes of cold patch per week. The average weekly cost of patch repairs, including material, equipment/vehicles, and staffing is approximately $3,500 or $182,000 annually.

The County has invested in a feasibility study ($153,074) and a design study ($178,849) to ensure this project is ready for tendering should funding from upper levels of government become available.

Opened in 1966, County Road 49 spans 18.4 kilometres, of which 17.3 kilometres is concrete pavement. The road connects Picton with the Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge, one of the largest entry-points into the municipality from Highway 401. The province of Ontario downloaded the roadway to the County in 1998. County Road 49 has reached the end of its natural lifespan. It consistently ranks as one of the worst roads in Ontario by CAA.

Click here to view the Have Your Say page and provide your input.