Sudbury's Maley Drive: an important federal election issue for some

Without a federal funding commitment for the extension of Maley Drive, people who live and work on the street are hoping Sudbury's federal election candidates will take up their cause.

Pot hole patches encumber the two-lane road, forcing people who work in the area, like Dianne Desroches, to avoid the route altogether.

"Sometimes it's easier if you can take Maley. It cuts time a little bit, but it's not worth it to my car," she said.

Paul Whissell, who works down the street as a machinist, said he wants federal election candidates to make Maley Drive a priority.

"It would be beneficial to not only the business people here, but for everyone else who uses it," he said.

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Not everyone feels as strongly.

Sam Yawney, who owns and lives at the Timberwolf Golf Club on Maley Drive, said he's "excited to see it happen and I think it will happen no matter who gets in there, but I don't think it will have an effect on my personal vote."

All of the main federal election candidates in Sudbury say they would support the Maley Drive extension, if that's what the city wants except Green Party candidate David Robinson, who saidthe project is a waste of money.

He said money would be better spent fixing areas where there is more traffic, like in the Four Corners area.

But Desroches said the road needs to be re-paved and extended immediately, "rather than taking crews to come out and do patch work, pot hole patrol every couple of days it would make more sense."

Yawney agreed that investing in Maley Drive would "make it that much easier and convenient for people" to travel to his golf club, but said "I think there are bigger fish out there to fry in terms of election issues than Maley Drive."

But Desroches, who is a server at Reise's Restaurant on Maley Drive, said it "is an important route for people ... and I think it's being completely ignored."

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