County seeks grant assistance to repair ‘Connecting Link’ road into Bloomfield

The County will take advantage of a call to apply for ‘Connecting Links’ funding to improve 1.1km of Bloomfield Main Street from the intersection of Hwy 62 and County Road 33, easterly to Corey Street.

The annual Connecting Links Program funding helps municipalities pay for the construction and repair costs for municipal roads and bridges that connect two ends of a provincial highway through a community. It offers up to 90 per cent of the cost, with a maximum of $3M.

“The Bloomfield link was chosen to maximize the program funding available,” said Joe Angelo, project manager, in his report to council Tuesday night. “The proposed rehabilitation project includes partial replacement of concrete barrier curb and driveway depressions as required, partial sidewalk replacement as necessary as well as removal and replacement of the existing asphalt pavement.”

Some councillors hearing about the grant at Tuesday night’s council meeting expressed hope a successful grant would address widening cracks in the road.

The estimated project cost is $2,315,000 and the municipality’s 10 per cent estimated contribution would be $256,031.

The remaining 1.6 kilometers of the Bloomfield connecting link, east of Corey Street, could be applied for in subsequent years.

If the grant application is successful and the project proceeds, staff propose the municipality’s contribution be taken from the Reserves for Road Construction-Urban and that the project be included in the proposed 2025 budget.