Between July and November, the city anticipates a contractor will lay 83,000 metres of large asphalt patches along rough stretches of Greater Sudbury roads.
The patches are anticipated to vary from 50 to 500 metres in length, from half lanes to full lanes throughout the municipality.
City senior planner Miranda Edwards walked the operations committee of city council through the effort during Monday’s meeting, after which she told Sudbury.com this year's effort is greater than usual.
It varies from year to year depending on city council budgeting, but their 2024-27 capital budget set aside $11.45 million toward large asphalt patches.
Last year saw 31,795 square metres of large asphalt patches installed, which this year’s effort is slated to more than double by drawing approximately $4.5 million from the four-year budget.
Large asphalt patches, Edwards explained to the committee, “focuses on critical areas in the road network for spot improvements and is considered industry-wide as an effective holding technique to extend the surface life of a roadway.”
“This method involves the targeted removal and replacement of deteriorated pavement sections, addressing surface and structural issues such as cracking, rutting and potholes,” according to Edwards’ report.
“This approach enhances safety and ride quality for road users while deferring the need for more extensive and costly rehabilitation or reconstruction.”
During Monday’s meeting, Ward 4 Coun. Pauline Fortin asked whether Burton Avenue would be included in this year’s city work plan.
The stretch of road runs through the Donovan and Cambrian Heights neighbourhoods, and was recently named the No. 5 worst road in Northern Ontario in this year’s CAA Worst Roads rankings. It also made the list in 2024, when it was ranked No. 4.
The latest CAA rankings were published after the contract was tendered, but Edwards said there’s a chance the city’s list of priority roads could be rejigged as locations are fully evaluated. Staff are currently completing field evaluations to determine whether the limits and extents of patches required at each location.
The large asphalt patches don’t address underlying structural issues, she clarified.
The city anticipates awarding a tender soon, with two contractors having submitted bids for this year’s efforts, including Beamish Construction Inc. and GIP Interpaving Ltd., both headquartered in Greater Sudbury.
Last year’s effort went to Beamish, which was the lowest bidder, but this year’s tender saw Interpaving submit the lowest bid.
Regardless of whichever contractor is chosen, work is anticipated to commence next month.
The following are the areas tentatively targeted for large asphalt patches this year, which were determined based on frequency of reoccurring potholes, area challenges, risk, location and frequency of claims.
- Auger Avenue at Lasalle Boulevard
- Barrydowne Road from Lasalle Boulevard to Fairburn Street (coordination with railway is required)
- Big Nickel Mine Road interchange at Lorne Street (MR 55)
- Copper Street between Kelly Lake Road and Martindale Road
- Cote Boulevard from Notre Dame Avenue to Capreol Road
- Deschesne Road between MR 80 and Gravel Drive
- Errington Avenue at Brookside Road intersection
- Falconbridge Road between Maley Drive and Garson-Coniston Road
- Falconbridge Road between the Kingsway and Maley Drive
- Garson-Coniston Road between Highway 17 and Falconbridge Road
- Kingsway s-curve
- Lasalle Boulevard between the snow dump and the MR35 Interchange
- Lloyd Street between Fabbro Street and Argyle Avenue
- Main Street from MR 80 to Elm Street
- Martindale Road at Ontario Intersection (coordination with railway required)
- MR 24 between Jacobson Drive and Old Creighton Road
- MR 35 between Clarabelle Road and Notre Dame Street
- MR 55 between Graham Road and Highway 17
- MR 55 between Kelly Lake Road and Fielding Road
- MR 80 at Valleyview Road Intersection
- Notre Dame Avenue at Marier Street/ St. Agnes Street Intersection
- Notre Dame Avenue from Oscar Road to Linden Drive
- Paris Street between Regent Street and Nepawhin Avenue
- Regent Street at Ontario Street Intersection (coordination with railway required)
- Regent Street between Paris Street and Loach’s Road
- Regent Street between Telstar Avenue and Paris Street
- Skead Road between Old Skead Road and Radar Road
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.