Council Backs Push for Province to Assume Control of County Road 49
Date: April 23, 2024
At a recent council meeting, Councillor Chris Braney introduced a motion calling on the mayor to formally ask Premier Doug Ford to consider uploading the road to provincial ownership. The motion received council’s backing.
The move follows the province’s recent decision to assume responsibility for Highway 174 in Ottawa, prompting local leaders to seek a similar arrangement for County Road 49. The roadway was originally transferred from the province to Prince Edward County in 1998 during sweeping infrastructure downloads under the former Mike Harris government.
Constructed in 1966, County Road 49 stretches roughly 18.6 kilometres, with most of the route built using concrete. It serves as the busiest gateway into the County, carrying an estimated 6,000 vehicles daily. Traffic includes commuters, tourists heading to Sandbanks Provincial Park and other provincially operated attractions, as well as heavy trucks supporting local industry and commerce.
Despite its importance, the road has continued to deteriorate. The County has invested more than $300,000 in engineering and feasibility studies and has prepared a shovel-ready rehabilitation plan. However, local officials say provincial funding options have been unavailable, even after multiple site visits by current and former transportation ministers who have seen the road’s condition firsthand.
Mayor Steve Ferguson has repeatedly emphasized the urgency of the issue, noting that the state of County Road 49 has surfaced as a campaign issue in several municipal elections. “Residents want action, and the County has done everything possible to be ready,” he said previously.
To strengthen advocacy efforts, council established a County Road 49 Working Group made up of the mayor and councillors Chris Braney, David Harrison, Brad Nieman, and Phil St-Jean.
The stretch of County Road 49 between the Skyway Bridge and Picton is experiencing serious structural issues, including cracking and failure at concrete joints and slabs. While the Skyway Bridge itself and the portion of the roadway through Tyendinaga fall under provincial maintenance, the County remains responsible for the most problematic section.
Temporary fixes have become a financial strain, with patch repairs costing about $3,500 per week—adding up to roughly $182,000 each year. The road has regularly appeared on CAA’s Worst Roads list and was voted the worst road in Ontario in 2016.
The most recent estimates suggest that a full rehabilitation could cost close to $30 million.
In Ottawa, the province’s agreement to reassess ownership of Regional Road 174 includes funding commitments for maintenance and rehabilitation as part of a phased evaluation. Premier Ford recently indicated his willingness to take on that responsibility, raising hopes that Prince Edward County could secure a similar outcome for County Road 49.
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