Local rural roads 'like little roller coasters' due for some TLC

North Bay City Council has awarded a contract worth nearly $177,000 to Duncor Enterprises Inc. for rural road surface treatment on Cedar Heights Road,
Northmount Road and Marsh Drive.

"I always enjoy seeing money being spent on roads — especially rural roads — because I don't know how often some of us in the urban area travel the rural roads but some of them can be in very, very rough shape," said Deputy Mayor Tanya Vrebosch in support.

According to the associated staff report, surface treatment is a combination of asphalt emulsion and clear aggregate, spread on the road surface and then rolled in place. The City of North Bay maintains approximately 158 kilometres of lanes of rural surface-treated roads.

In recommending the award of the contract, City noted "the surface treatment is required in order to comply with the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standard."

"Surface treatment is commonly used in rural areas due to the fact it is more cost-effective than traditional hot mix. The life cycle of surface-treated roads
depends on numerous factors such as traffic volume, drainage, and vehicle type but typically lasts for 8 to 12 years. Cedar Heights Road, Northmount
Road and Marsh Drive have not been treated since 2010," from the report.

"This is good for this year but I look forward to the Asset Management Plan identifying some of the extra needs that will be required to fix some of the rural roads," Vrebosch added. "Some of them are like little roller coasters."

Two quotes were evaluated by the Purchasing Manager and the Manager of Roads Traffic and Landfill Operations. The evaluation considered company ability, experience and price. Duncor Enterprises Inc.'s bid of $176,947.50 was the lowest bid and deemed the best overall value to the City of North Bay. Miller Paving Limited bid $187,300.