Pothole season spurs Scugog road repair plan in Port Perry

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Initiative Reporter for The Standard

SCUGOG: Motorists in Port Perry can expect smoother drives ahead, as Scugog Township moves forward with a targeted plan to repair several high-traffic roads, following a punishing winter season.

At its meeting, on Monday, March 23rd, council approved a recommendation, from the Public Works and Recreation Department, to use unallocated Roads Levy Reserve funds to rehabilitate key stretches of roadway in the Port Perry urban area. The decision comes after a 2025/26 winter, marked by 56 plowing and salting events, along with repeated freeze-thaw cycles which accelerated road deterioration well beyond typical seasonal wear.

The approved work will focus on 11 road segments, totalling approximately 2.7 kilometres, including portions of Allan, Alma, Balsam, MacDonald, Rosa, Paxton, Casimir, Clark, Elgin, Taylor Boulevard, and Cawkers Cove Road. These routes were selected, based on their poor condition, traffic volume, and proximity to one another, which is expected to allow crews to complete repairs more efficiently while minimizing mobilization and transportation costs.

The additional work carries an estimated price tag of $752,675 and will be funded through the Roads Levy Reserve, which currently holds just over $795,000. The project is in addition to roughly $9.3 million in previously committed roadwork projects, the majority of which are expected to begin in 2026.

“Road rehabilitation is a constant process in the Township of Scugog, with many roads requiring repair at any given time,” explained Grant Taylor, Director of Public Works and Recreation. “This project was designed to repair a group of close-proximity roads, identified in the State of the Infrastructure report, to cut down on mobilization and transportation costs and address roads in very poor condition. We will continue to invest in our roads and search for efficiencies, like this one, to keep costs as low as we can.”

For many residents, the work can’t come soon enough.

“It’s been a rough winter on the roads,” said Port Perry resident Lisa McKenzie, who commutes daily along Simcoe Street and nearby side roads to Oshawa. “There are potholes everywhere, and you really have to watch where you’re driving. It’s good to see the Township taking action.”

Another resident, Mark Davidson, who operates a small business near a local industrial park, said, deteriorating road conditions have been a growing concern for both customers and deliveries.

“Some of these roads are heavily used every day, especially by service vehicles and transport trucks,” he said. “Repairs like this make a big difference, not just for safety, but for local businesses too.”

Township staff emphasized, road repair decisions are based on a variety of factors, including, findings from the State of the Infrastructure report, underground infrastructure conditions, traffic volumes, and coordination with regional projects. Officials noted, while this round of work focuses on Port Perry, due to efficiency and proximity, additional road projects across the township are planned and outlined in the 2026 Consolidated Budget.

In the meantime, crews will continue addressing potholes, using cold mix asphalt, as a temporary measure, until hot mix becomes available, later in the spring. While less durable, the material helps maintain provincial safety standards, during the transition out of winter.

Residents, with concerns about specific road conditions, are encouraged to submit inquiries through the Township’s MyScugogConnected portal or contact Public Works directly.

With construction season approaching, Grant Taylor, Director of Public Works and Recreation says, the goal is clear: address the worst-hit roads now while continuing to plan for long-term improvements across the community.