MR 35 twinning, Lorne St. repairs: Sudbury councillors say the time is now

Morning North5:48Sudbury city councillors say now is the time to fund road projects

Road improvements were on the minds of Greater Sudbury city councillors at a recent budget meeting. They want the city to get serious about funding road projects. Councillors say it's time to put shovels in the ground. We have audio of that discussion.

Some Sudbury city councillors are urging the city to invest in major road projects, besides Maley Drive.

They say four-laning Municipal Road 35 between Azilda and Chelmsford is needed and there is support to rehabilitate the entire stretch of Lorne Street.

Many of the projects have been given some funding, but not enough to get shovels in the ground.

The city can't wait any longer, said Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan at Tuesday's finance committee meeting

"I've lived here all my life and, you know, for the last three decades, I've been hearing some of these major projects," he said.

"They're still on the books. I don't have three more decades."

Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier and Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac pressed for the four-laning of Municipal Road 35 between Azilda and Chelmsford.

Montpellier said the $50 million generated from the Sudbury slots is more than enough to cover the project's price tag.

The road is a safety risk right now with just two lanes, he noted.

"There's been several fatalities along this road. Recently, the city has lost a $12 million lawsuit on this road," he said.

"So it speaks for itself as to the danger of this road."

Councillors decided to look into how much it would cost to twin Municipal Road 35 and also requested a report on the full cost of rehabilitating Lorne Street.

That information will become available later in the budget process.