Minto seeks funding for Elora Street North

MINTO – Council here is applying for provincial funding to complete engineering work for the future reconstruction of Elora Street North in Harriston.

Minto councillors endorsed an application to Ontario’s 2027-28 Connecting Links Program at its Sept. 22 meeting. 

The proposed project involves the section of Highway 9 (Elora Street North) running from Adelaide Street to the northern town limits, according to a report by roads and drainage manager Mike McIsaac.

He said staff are seeking funding for the engineering and detailed design work rather than for construction at this stage. 

This comes after the province launched a “new” round of Connecting Link funding (intake 12) in August.

Intake 12 funding will provide $45 million to support municipalities with the construction and repair of roads and bridges on connecting links.

Connecting links are sections of provincial highways that run through municipalities and are maintained by the municipality. In Minto, they include Highway 9 and Highway 23/89 in Harriston and Highway 9 in Clifford.

McIsaac said applications for projects under this intake are due by Nov. 12, and up to 90 per cent of total eligible project costs may be funded. 

The maximum request is $5 million per road project, he wrote in the report.

“This is just a brief report looking for council’s endorsement to submit to the Connecting Link funding, essentially just for engineering only,” McIsaac said, adding the town used a similar approach for the Arthur Street project, first obtaining funding for engineering and applying for construction funding later.

While the section of road is just 175 meters long, McIsaac said several factors will have to be considered in the design, including nearby businesses, potential development and the existing subdivision around Tuffy MacDougall Court.

“We can come back and, whether it be next year, two years or five years down the road, for the actual construction application at that time,” McIsaac said.

The estimated cost to complete the detailed engineering design for the reconstruction is $200,000. If the town’s application is successful, Minto would be responsible for 10%, or about $20,000.

The Elora Street North section is the only remaining portion of a connecting link in Minto that is eligible for this funding, according to the  report.

Councillor Judy Dirksen asked how long the infrastructure installed through the previous reconstruction project is expected to last. 

McIsaac said underground infrastructure generally lasts 50 to 70 years, but pavement not nearly as long.

“With a connecting link, you’re probably lucky if you can get 20 to 25 years out of that.”

He added that could mean resurfacing other portions of Elora Street in the next decade or so. However, it would not require the same scale of reconstruction as the original projects.

Councillor Ron Elliott asked how long completed engineering work would remain useful if construction does not proceed immediately. 

McIsaac said the design can remain valid for a lengthy period, but changes to hydro poles or other utilities could require parts of it to be revised.

Discussion then turned to potential future development north of Adelaide Street towards Tim Hortons, and how it could affect the reconstruction.

Mayor Dave Turton asked whether the project could include a turning lane. McIsaac said that is among the issues staff will need to examine as there are unofficial plans for a new intersection associated with future development in the area.

Depending on the timing of that development, a future council could choose to proceed with a smaller project addressing existing needs before a more extensive project is required later, he explained.

Turton also asked about extending sidewalks along the section, including pedestrian access toward Tim Hortons.

McIsaac said sidewalks on both sides could be considered and “it would be nice to have some sort of control there for people crossing at that point.”

Council unanimously carried the motion endorsing the town’s Connecting Links application.