Leamington approves pulverization costs for Roads 10 and 11

LEAMINGTON — Leamington Council has approved a $324,000 price tag to pulverize portions of Roads 10 and 11 to keep the roads safe.

Intense greenhouse construction traffic has created hazards in the roads, where Roads 10 and 11 are breaking down in certain stretches near those sites, mainly between Highway 77 and County Rd. 31.

Rob Sharon, Director of Infrastructure Services for the municipality, spoke to council and presented photos of the damage currently on the two roads in question.

“These roads were not built to withstand the kind of heavy truck traffic that is happening right now,” he said. “They are currently unsafe.”

Roads 10 and 11 study area marked in red

Sharon and administration were asking for an immediate approval of the $324,000 required to pulverize those sections of roads and return them, essentially, to gravel surface.

He also touched on future work out there and asked council for approval to review the options available to strengthen the roads.

Options range from reverting to gravel, to a reinforcement of the existing tar and chip surface, to asphalt paving of the roads to withstand future development traffic.

He also spoke to the cost factors.

“Any future large development should be required to pay for, or help pay for, any damage to existing roads,” he said. Councillor John Hammond agreed. “Those who benefit from these roads (greenhouses), should be the ones who pay for this,” said Hammond.

After some discussion, it was decided to approve the $324,000 needed to pulverize those sections of Roads 10 and 11 and for administration to bring a report back to council on future rural road policies.