The Rural Municipality of Hanover is now one step closer to paving a portion of Hanover Road, south of Mitchell.

A public hearing was held Wednesday, where the municipality presented its plan for repaving just over one mile of Hanover Road or Road 34N. If approved, the paving would be done between Road 30E and 31E. In addition, 240 metres would be paved east of Road 31E, and 340 metres would be paved south of 34N. The municipality says the construction would be conducted to the necessary standard to handle heavy-duty commercial traffic with an asphalt thickness of 100 millimetres. 

Chief Financial Officer Derek Decru says the project is estimated to cost just over $625,000. The municipality intends to use $400,000 from the Canada Community-Building Fund and $100,250 from its Road Reconstruction Reserve. This leaves $125,062.50 left to be borrowed, which works out to 20 per cent of the project cost.

According to the municipality, the borrowed amount would be paid for by owners of any property as defined by Council as benefiting from the improvement. There are approximately 175 properties that fit that description. If approved, these property owners would see an increase in their taxes. Reeve Jim Funk says it works out to approximately $185 per year over five years for a home assessed at $350,000. 

Funk notes that is a very busy road.

"We did a count on that road and that road brings almost the same traffic amounts as Ridge Road," he says. "There is an awful lot of traffic happening on that parcel of road."

At Wednesday's public hearing, it was noted that the municipality has received four letters of objection. Some of the reasons for objecting, include the fact that these property owners do not feel that they will benefit from this project. Two owners stated that Hanover Road is a truck route and the paving would not last. 

However, several residents appeared at the public hearing to voice their approval for the project. Art Enns says the paving will immediately increase property values. He says that stretch should also be paved for safety reasons, noting it can be dangerous for pedestrians or children walking that gravel road at dusk when the conditions are dusty from vehicles passing by. 

Following the public hearing, Council gave first reading to the plan. Funk says it will now be sent to the Municipal Board. He anticipates that Council could give final reading sometime in the next couple of months. Funk notes the plan is to complete the project in 2024. 

 

In response to Canada's Online News Act and Meta (Facebook and Instagram) removing access to local news from their platforms, SteinbachOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the SteinbachOnline app.