Ever wondered how City of Chilliwack decides which roads get paved every year?
Wonder no more. The question was answered in council chambers this week.
They use a “worst first” system, so that roads in the worst condition get repaved first, according to Rod Sanderson, manager of transportation and drainage.
He was responding to a question from Coun. Ken Huttema at the Tuesday council meeting, about how the city determines which roads to pave.
Roads on the list to be repaved in 2014 include: McGuire, Grand View, Spadina, Keith Wilson, Knight, Yale and Chilliwack Lake Road.
Huttema asked why Keith Wilson is on the list this year, but not Boundary Road, which is also an arterial road in need.
Sanderson explained the many factors that could be at play, such as utilities under the road causing delays or extra costs. In the case of a water main underground that’s about to be replaced, they’ll patch it temporarily until they can repave it.
Council awarded the tender for 2014 Asphalt Rehabilitation and Shoulder Paving to Keywest Asphalt for $1.234 million. That covers only the “tender base” section of the wider $2.7 million road rehabilitation budget for 2014.
The rehab system also divides Chilliwack roads into class categories. They are classified as local, collector or arterial, to ensure the less-travelled local roads do get some attention.
Coun. Jason Lum asked if it was true the paving budget would see “a bit of an increase” this year.
Staff acknowledged it had increased roughly 10 per cent over last year’s budget. An additional $250,000 is allocated, according to city staff. The city’s 10-year financial plan shows the paving budget for 2013 was $2.475 million, which was increased to $2.725 for 2014. That larger total includes the “tender base” roads to be repaved, as well provisional projects.
“Hopefully that will move the standard up a bit,” concluded Coun. Lum at the council meeting.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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