Title
Range Road 35 - Road Condition Report
Proposed Motion
That Council receive the report as information, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the proposed motion.
Purpose
At the May 28, 2024, Council provided direction to Administration to prepare a report on the current condition of Range Road 35 and to return to Council with information. This report is in response to the approved motion.
Summary
Range Road 35, north of Highway 16 is a gravel surfaced roadway with an average width of about 7.0m. It serves as a primary access point to the Kapasiwin Waste Transfer as well as for residential areas north and west of the waste transfer site. The roadway was built prior to 1962 and has received ongoing maintenance and minor rehabilitations over its lifecycle, including the routine surface re-gravelling as typical for all gravel roadways in Parkland County. Site specific road surface blading and rut repairs have been completed as part of routine maintenance operations. The most recent traffic count completed for this roadway was done in 2013. The Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) was 281 vehicles per day on this segment of roadway. The County's Transportation System Bylaw - Bylaw 2022-15 identifies this as a local roadway. The volume is considered appropriate for a 2-lane gravel roadway. It is noted this information is quite dated and an updated count will be completed in 2025, as part of preparing design for construction, as identified below.
During spring months, there are known deficiencies in the roadway. As the frost leaves the ground and surface rains occur, the roadway becomes challenging to navigate over a few small sections of the roadway. Two specific areas of about 20m and 100m are particularly bad. These two areas have periodic roadside water retention areas (i.e. drainage issues) and are more susceptible to frost heaves from the saturated areas. As a result, the surface becomes soft, creating ruts in the travel path and results in poor driving conditions for brief periods in time. Roadway Maintenance diligently observes and addresses issues as soon as possible. Grading activities and surfacing restoration occurs soon after issues are identified. It is understood that these are often short-term repairs and a larger scale improvement is required to increase the service level on this roadway. Once the frost is fully out of the ground, these areas dry out, the surface hardens and these issues are no longer prevalent, until the next spring.
Engineering Services completed a detailed design for this road segment in 2018. This project has been ready to advance forward once funding was identified and available. Other roadways, such as Mink Lake Road, held higher priority in addressing issues as they either were in worse condition, required greater level of effort and cost to maintain, had higher traffic volumes or created other concerns that merited more immediate attention. Administration notes that this project is listed as a "ready to construct" project in the near term. It is identified as project 26-B3 on the 2024-2027 Capital Infrastructure Program. Design approvals, permits, permissions and approvals will be updated in 2025 and construction is currently planned for 2026, subject to available funding and Council approval of the budget. This project will address long-term road improvements and will provide enhanced service levels for area residents and visitors to the Kapasiwin Waste Transfer Site. The repeated spring frost heaves will be addressed as part of the construction processes.
Historical Information:
At the May 14, 2024, Council Meeting, Councillor Weideman tabled the following Notice of Motion: "Take notice that at the Council Meeting on May 28, 2024, Council Member Weideman will move that administration be directed to reached the conditions of Range Road 35 and determine what we can do to fix that road and reduce the amount of complaints."
At the May 28, 2024, Council Meeting, Councillor Weideman tabled the following Motion: "That Administration be directed to research the conditions of Range Road 35 and determine what we can do to fix that road and reduce the amount of complaints."
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Pillar A - Complete Communities - Goal 3 - To Ensure that County infrastructure meets the needs of residents, businesses, and industry.
Financial Impact:
Cost: $0.00
Source of Funding: n/a