A new Union

Council approves reconstruction of Mountain View road

Faced with the looming prospect of closing part of Union Road due to its deteriorating condition, last week council reaffirmed a decision it made in December to rebuild the short linking roadway. It approved awarding a $287,715 contract to Cooney Excavating to reconstruct a portion of the road. The total cost of this part of the project including engineering, is expected to be $317,000 plus taxes. More money will be needed next year to complete the reconstruction of this half-kilometre link between County Road 2 (Belleville Road) and Highway 62.

“It will be a new road,” says roads chief Robert McAuley, eager to see a resolution to the road’s multi-year saga.

It was once the end of the roadway between Belleville and Mountain View. But Union Road became a remnant after Highway 62 carved a wide, smooth roadway down the escarpment, bypassing the hamlet of homes nestled in the lee of the hill. It continued to serve as access for these residents, but it also became a bit of a shortcut, offering the potential to shave a few seconds from the journey to and from Belleville. While it has always been narrow, gravity and time have combined to make the road an increasingly risky adventure for vehicles meeting on the blind corner.

The roads department has warned for several years that Union Road would have to be rebuilt or the top portion (descending from the escarpment) would have to be closed. Last week, McAuley pleaded with council to make a decision. Unless something was done soon, he would be forced to close it—likely within a year.

“It is now or never,” McAuley told council.

Several council members, led by Gord Fox and including Mayor Robert Quaiff, said the money could be better spent in dozens of places across the County. Others said council has an obligation to demonstrate it understands the County’s precarious financial situation regarding its roads, bridges and waterworks.

“This is a bad political message,” said Picton councillor Treat Hull, “We are facing a staggering infrastructure deficit. We need to show we are serious.”

A majority of his colleagues weren’t convinced.

“Some people cherish this road,” argued Janice Maynard, Ameliasburgh councillor, urging her fellow council members to spend the money to rebuild Union Road. “It has great historic and heritage value. It is the last little piece of what the County was.”

Picton councillor Lenny Epstein failed to see how closing one end of the road would erase the heritage value of the hillside community.

But Councillor Diane O’Brien warned of political blowback if council failed to spend this money to keep the road open at both ends.

“It is just going take away from the people,” said O’Brien. “It won’t end here.”

Other councillors noted it would cost the County money to close one end of the roadway, requiring the creation of a turnaround. In December, Jamie Forrester had voted against spending this money on Union Road, arguing for fiscal prudence during budget deliberations, but changed his mind last week because the County would otherwise be on the hook for the cost of a turnaround and two barricades.

Jim Dunlop warned that a new roadway would encourage many more than the 500 cars that travel the road each day to take the newly rebuilt shortcut.

“I expect a year from now the neighbours will be here asking us to install speed bumps to calm the traffic,” predicted Dunlop.

Mayor Quaiff warned that sooner or later council would have to make some difficult decisions. The County has calculated it needs nearly $600 million to bring its roads, bridges and waterworks up to an acceptable standard. Each year, it digs this hole $38 million deeper.

“We have said time and time again that some roads will have to be closed and that compaved roads will go back to gravel,” said Quaiff. “We have an excellent highway nearby. We are facing difficult choices.”

In a recorded vote, council members Kevin Gale, Steve Graham, Janice Maynard, Brad Nieman, Dianne O’Brien, Roy Pennell, Barry Turpin, Steve Ferguson and Jamie Forrester voted in support of the project.

The last hurdle has been crossed. The reconstruction of Union Road is expected to commence in the next few weeks.