Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley
Plans for the Maley Drive Extension are ready to be submitted
for federal and provincial funding. The project will cost $115
million by the time it is completed in 2014, according to Greg
Clausen, Greater Sudbury general manager of infrastructure
services.
"The Maley Drive Extension is the single biggest road project
ever undertaken in the city," said Clausen Wednesday morning.
The city is seeking funding from the Building Canada Plan of
the federal government. This is a longer-term infrastructure
program than the two-year infrastructure economic stimulus
funding program recently announced by the federal government.
Last week, Greater Sudbury submitted five roads projects under
the economic stimulus program. The Building Canada Plan is for
much larger construction projects. It requires each individual
project to be a minimum of $30 million to be eligible, said
Clausen.
According to a letter by Mayor John Rodriguez to George
Smitherman, Ontario Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, on
March 10, city transportation studies in 1992 and 2005
identified the need for a new east-west link across the north
end of the city.
The project includes more than 12 kilometres of upgrades and
new construction, including a full interchange at Notre Dame
Avenue and a number of flyover crossings. Intersections will
also be improved at Barrydowne Road, Frood Road, Falconbridge
Road and Lansing Avenue. Work could commence in late 2009, if
funding is received early enough, noted Clausen. The mayor and
several staff met with federal Industry Minister Tony Clement
and Smitherman to introduce them to the project.
"I was not at that meeting, but the feedback I am getting is
that the project is supported by Minister (Rick) Bartolucci, by
(the appropriate) federal and provincial ministers and by their
staff," said Clausen.
City staff prepared a report on the project for city council
Wednesday in order to get a formal endorsement of the city's
financial commitment.
If the project is approved by senior levels of government, the
city's one-third share, plus some costs not covered, would be
about $41 million. Of that, $35 million would be debt financed.
City council has been told by staff that the Maley Drive
Extension would reduce traffic congestion on existing
roads.