Brock is looking beyond 2026 with a new long-term rural roads strategy

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

BROCK: Travellers, on Brock Township's rural roads, should continue to see improvements throughout the summer and autumn, as municipal crews press ahead with an expanded maintenance program, funded through council's emergency rural roads initiative.

At a meeting, on Monday, June 29th, Brock Township Council received an update on the municipality's previously approved Rural Roads Emergency Funding program, in which councillors directed staff to continue work on additional brushing, ditching, and shoulder berm removal, across the township.

The update follows council's decision, in April, to reallocate $100,000 in capital funding, after concerns were raised about deteriorating road conditions, following a challenging winter and wet spring.

Director of Public Works, Ben Kester told council, the additional funding has allowed staff to significantly increase maintenance efforts, particularly by authorizing overtime, so crews can complete work more quickly.

Since April, township staff have graded all 150 lane kilometres of Brock's gravel roads, completed brushing along several Thorah concession roads, and secured additional gravel to repair washouts, shoulders, and potholes.

Brushing has been completed along Concessions 7, 8, 9, and 10, in Thorah, while additional brushing is planned for sections of Concessions 6 and 7, Sideroad 17, and Concession 2.

The report also outlines an extensive list of roads scheduled for ditching work, once gravel placement and calcium chloride applications are complete. Additional shoulder berm removal is planned, on several concession roads and sideroads, throughout both Brock and Thorah.

To date, just over $48,000 of the approved funding has been spent.

The largest expense has been equipment repairs and fuel, accounting for more than $20,000, followed by $18,500 for use of a Durapatcher road repair unit. Staff overtime has totalled approximately $7,700, while additional gravel purchases account for just over $1,400.

"The great progress [which] has been seen so far, is really encouraging," Councillor Angela Canavan said. "I know residents have been noticing the work taking place, and I appreciate everything our public works staff have been doing." Mayor Mike Jubb said, the township is making meaningful progress. However, he cautioned residents, addressing years of deferred maintenance will require patience.

"I want to be very clear, this is a tremendous amount of work which needs to be done, and it's going to take years and years to get this done," Mayor Jubb explained.

"There's no beating around the bush on that. Our crews have done an amazing job, after a terrible winter and a terrible spring, and I am hopeful everyone notices the work going into our rural roads."

"This is a solid plan for this year," he said. "What I'd really like to see is, a detailed multi-year plan, so residents know what to expect over the coming years."

Mr. Kester told council, staff are already working on that strategy, in a comprehensive multi-year rural roads maintenance plan, expected to be completed before the end of the year.

The report noted, staff will continue tracking expenditures against the $100,000 allocation, and work will continue, until the approved funding has been exhausted. Should any funds remain at year's end, they will be returned to the township's reserve.

Mr. Kester acknowledged, there are still many roads requiring attention which were not included in this year's maintenance schedule. In addition, he said, staff will continue prioritizing repairs, based on need, while recognizing, weather conditions and equipment breakdowns could affect timelines.

Council received the report for information and directed staff to continue carrying out the planned brushing, ditching, and shoulder maintenance program through the remainder of the 2026 construction season.