Roadways in Oliver need more tender loving care, according to Public Works.
Recently the Town’s director of operations, Shawn Goodsell, told council that since a 2000 roads assessment, there has been a “downward trend” in road conditions.
He noted the Town has budgeted an average of $350,000 a year on road improvements and maintenance. But that may not be good enough as conditions are “slowly falling into the poor category” compared to 2000 levels, Goodsell said. That’s why he suggested a $450,000 a year maintenance budget.
Council forwarded the Roadworks Capital Plan to the strategic planning session and budget meeting for further discussion.
The Town originally had a road assessment report completed in 1991, followed by a 2000 and 2012 update.
In 2002 a consultant found the Town of Oliver had an “above average” ranking for road conditions, with 70 per cent of the roads ranking in the “good” category.
In 2011, Oliver’s roads were rated as 18 per cent poor, 16 per cent fair and 66 per cent good.
“Since the 2000 assessment, the roads rated good have dropped and the poor category has increased,” Goodsell said. “It was felt that not enough road maintenance dollars had been budgeted to maintain the level ratings at the previous levels.”
Goodsell said staff budgeted additional dollars in the 2015 budget to continue the crack sealing campaign to prevent surface water penetrating the asphalt.
Road projects being reviewed include reconstruction of Station Street, upgrading Sawmill Road and Fairview Road repaving.
Councillor Jack Bennest said the Hillcrest Street upgrades last year really “moved us ahead.”
