Arran-Elderslie will be getting some sidewalks replaced and a new one built.
One will be along Bruce Road 10 (Yonge Street) in Tara and the other on 2nd Ave Southwest in Chesley.
In Tara, staff recommended installing a sidewalk at the south end of town, saying there has been some concern over people having to walk on the grass shoulder or the road to get to the Rotary Park. The plan is to extend the sidewalk and build a new one out from Union Street to the park.
Councillor Peter Steinacker noted during discussion, “I hear no comments about it, I hear nobody saying we need a sidewalk there, I know there has been in the past, a few, but I think sometimes we base decisions on just a few comments.”
He added, he didn’t want to take away from people, but wasn’t sure how much use the sidewalk would get.
Council briefly discussed the possible impacts of making changes at this stage, and staff advised taking out parts of the project companies have bid on would complicate things.
In Chesley, the section of sidewalk on 2nd Ave SW, between 2nd Street SW and 3rd Street SW, will be replaced and brought up to Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act standards with tactile plates.
A staff report to council explains, a 2021 roads and sidewalks study estimated the municipality would need to do about $2.4 million of work between 2022 and 2026. The report says $1.2 million was completed last year with the help of grant funding.
This year’s projects are quoted at about $67,000 over the anticipated budget. Staff noted there has been aboout $45,000 in savings on recent vehicle purchases, leaving the municipality with about $22,000 extra to cover.
The expectation is to have the sidewalks completed by the end of October.