A J-Class gravel road in Antigonish County will be resurfaced this construction season to the delight of local residents.
The Somers Road will be paved under a 50-50 cost-share agreement with the Municipality of the County of Antigonish and the province. Property owners on the road will also contribute 12 per cent of the estimated $600,000 cost of the project.
“I think it will be awesome,” said Somers Road resident Sandra Swinkels. “I will be able to have clean windows, less trips to the mechanic, less dust; it’s just going to be so nice.”
J-Class roads are owned by the province but fall under a cost-sharing agreement between the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal and municipalities.
The Somers Road is a two-kilometre dead-end stretch off Old Highway 104. A 700-metre section at the beginning of the road was paved about 15 years ago. Washboarding, potholes and dust are major issues during the summer on the road, while plowing and ice build-up are concerns during the winter months.
“I couldn’t be any happier,” Hugh Farrell – who has lived on the Somers Road for more than 50 years – said of the upgrade. “It’s nothing but dust in the summertime here, and wintertime, we’re not plowed as quick as the paved roads are and it’s full of potholes.
“We’re very pleased and I think everybody on the road feels the same way.”
Vaughan Chisholm, District 4 area councillor, said the Somers Road has been on an annual list of roads submitted by the county for upgrades and he’s thrilled to see it finally get the attention it deserves.
“I’m extremely happy,” he said. “The request has gone into the province for many years now and I’m very happy that it’s done.
“They’ve (the residents) been hoping for this for a long time and the road is close to town so it makes it attractive for other people to buy lots and build there.”
Tenders haven't been called yet and Chisholm said he’s not certain when the project will be completed – but sometime “before the snow flies.”
