By Cheryl Jahn

Roads Budget not increased, despite recommendation

Feb 14, 2022 | 3:30 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The weather has been unseasonably warm. Not often you have prolonged temperatures in the pluses in the month of February. But it comes on the heels of a cold snap during Christmas. It’s those fluctuations that are hard on our roads.

City Administration, in the lead up to the budget, recommended settling on a budget of $5.95 million. But Council opted to pare that figure by $450,000. Not something Councillor Susan Scott agreed with.

“Every year we brew a fresh batch of potholes,” says Scott. “And we have sections of roads in our city that have not seen nominal repair in some time. But there’s only so much you can do within weather constraints as well as budgets.”

Community

Prince George celebrates the 325 anniversary of the Sikh faith

22m ago

Fort Nelson Wildfire

Prince George Fire Centre the "primary risk" according to B.C. Government

23h ago

TRAMPOLINE WESTERNS

Liam Bowe looks to jump to new heights at Trampoline Gymnastics Canada Cup

May 17, 2024

Following a record year for the roads budget at $7 million, the City did manage to catch up on the number of potholes they are having to fill. And to some degree, that’s thanks to new technologies.

“We are making headway with our potholes,” says Jordan Wiseman, the Manager of Roads and Fleet. “Over the last few years, with the increases in road rehabilitation budgets, that’s definitely helped. In the last four years, we’ve acquired an asphalt recycler which allows us in the shoulder seasons while we’re waiting for the asphalt plants to open, we can actually make our own hot mix. Which normally works a lot better than your throw and go cold mix.

Prior to budget discussions Council passed a resolution that asked Administration: “… to prepare a report providing options for a 4.37% increase to the estimated general operating levy for council’s consideration, which is 2% less than the initial projections.” but Councillor Cori Ramsay specifically asked Administration to avoid the roads, snow and general infrastructure budget, calling them the low handing fruit. But Council went there anyway.

“We touched roads,” admitted Mayor Lyn Hall. “Some people would say it’s a roll of the dice, but I think we’re in good shape. We saw a surplus in a couple of areas. Snow removal. So we did. We touched [roads].”

And behind pothole complaints that come to the City are those about sidewalks. And, as one of two councillors on the accessiblity committee, Scott says that a big one.

“In places, they are extremely bad,” says Scott. “And I know myself and Councillor Frizzell and our spouses meet for breakfast every Saturday morning. The restaurant we go to had a horrible time trying to keep ahead of the snow, ice, snow ice.”

The City’s budget sets out over a million dollars for both new sidewalks and walkways and well as sidewalk rehabilitation. Last year, the city did 2,200 linear metres of sidewalk rehab.