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Paving and Sidewalk Projects – 2024-2025 General Capital Budget

April 2, 2024

Streets and sidewalks make up a critical part of our Town’s surface level infrastructure and are depended upon every day by our citizens and visitors alike. This is why $1,160,100 – or, approximately 24% of the 2024-2025 General Capital Budget spending – is assigned to various street paving and sidewalk improvement projects.

Street conditions are evaluated and rated using a scale from 1-10 – with 1 as a failing grade, and 9-10 considered excellent. A number of streets in Amherst were identified as being in poor to fair condition (ratings of 4-5) and in need of rehabilitation. After considering the age of infrastructure running under this group of streets, the areas have been deemed suitable for paving with an asphalt overlay, which means applying a new asphalt layer over the existing asphalt surface.

“Placement of an asphalt overlay is the most suitable rehabilitation at this time to extend the life of the streets and improve overall road conditions in the areas,” said Aaron Bourgeois, Director of Operations for the Town of Amherst. “If not addressed now, these streets may require a costly full depth reconstruction within the next five years. The planned surface treatment should extend the life of the pavements, on average, by 15 years.”

The following streets will receive an asphalt overlay during the upcoming roadwork season:

  • Agnew Street – from Clarence to Havelock
  • Allison Avenue – from Elmwood to Spring
  • Arlington Avenue – in total
  • Beacon Street – Croft to Church
  • Havelock Street – Prince Arthur to Spring
  • Robie Street – Clarence to Havelock
  • Sackville Road – Erncliffe to Rambler
  • Townshend Avenue – Academy to Charles

Rupert Street from Spring to Victoria is also included in the Town’s list of paving projects. This street will have its existing pavement surface milled away to restore it to a uniform texture, in preparation for a new layer of asphalt.

The rail crossing on Anson Avenue/Industrial Park Drive is at the main entrance of our industrial park. Every year, CN performs repairs at its crossings and their last inspection showed that a full rehabilitation is required at the industrial park rail crossing. CN will be performing this work during the 2024 construction season, but the Town of Amherst is responsible for 100% of the maintenance costs, in accordance with the Canadian Transportation Agency. An amount of $148,100 is budgeted for this work, being drawn from the General Operating Fund.

Total costs of these street paving and maintenance projects are budgeted at $1,041,100. The balance of funds in this category is $119,000, which has been allocated to several sidewalk improvement projects.

Sidewalks are also evaluated on a regular basis, using a scale from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Three sidewalk sections have been identified as being in poor condition and will be replaced with new 1.5m wide concrete sidewalks:

  • LaPlanche Street – east side, Victoria to Lawrence
  • Cornwall Street – Anson to Cordova
  • Beacon Street – Croft to Church

“Work will also be done on the West Victoria Street sidewalk, from Hickman to the CNR crossing, to continue a prior year’s reconstruction project,” said Bourgeois. “And, a brand-new sidewalk will be constructed on Derby Street, which will connect pedestrians exiting the marsh trail to the town’s existing sidewalk network at Victoria Street, and vice versa.”

Tactile indicator plates are designed to be detectable underfoot when walking. Plates will be installed at the intersection of Victoria and Havelock Streets, at the mid-block crosswalk on Victoria at Town Hall, and as part of all sidewalk improvement projects moving forward. These new indicator plates will match the work that was completed last year at the intersection of Victoria and Church Streets, and will help provide a safer environment for residents with visual impairments.

Finally, in order to close an identified gap in our active transportation infrastructure, a new pedestrian trail will be constructed from the Clinton Street and Fernwood Drive areas to the NSCC campus. An informal trail already exists as a number of residents use this route, but a properly constructed trail will be safer and provide better access for these users while providing a welcome addition to our walking trail system.

All of the paving, sidewalk, and trail improvements outlined in the 2024-2025 Capital Budget will be paid for without affecting the municipal tax rate, and without the need to borrow funds. This is due to the Town of Amherst’s positive financial position.