Maley Drive Extension funding from feds still in limbo, Sudbury council hears

Sudbury city councillors pressed for answers about Maley Drive at yesterday's operations committee meeting after learning the extension project wasn't on the agenda.

Councillors were expecting a presentation to hear about the business case for extending the road.

The omission prompted inquiries about the status of the project.

"When we're dealing with the largest project that this city is going to undertake, I think we need to understand it in a very clear way," said Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini.

"It's something that I think is important."

Infrastructure services manager Tony Cecutti said it still needs federal funding, and the city is waiting to see if the extension qualifies for the Building Canada Fund.

"Unfortunately, because there is no application process it's impossible for us to say if it's exactly complied and we have no written approval that the project's been approved," he said.

The cost of the first phase of the extension to connect LaSalle Boulevard West with Falconbridge Highway is more than $80 million.