County Presses Governments to Fund Major Repairs on County Road 49
Date: May 17, 2023
Prince Edward County officials are urging federal and provincial governments to step in and help fund long-overdue repairs to County Road 49, a key transportation route that has deteriorated significantly over time. Calling the situation unsustainable, Mayor Steve Ferguson said the condition of the road has been a recurring public concern and election issue for years.
The County says the project is shovel-ready, having already invested more than $330,000 in feasibility and design studies to prepare the road for reconstruction once senior-government funding becomes available. Despite ongoing patchwork, the road continues to suffer from major structural failures, costing the municipality about $182,000 annually in temporary repairs.
Originally opened in 1966 and transferred from the province to the County in 1998, County Road 49 stretches nearly 19 kilometres and serves as a primary gateway into Prince Edward County via the Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge. The route handles about 6,000 vehicles per day, including heavy truck traffic, with volumes expected to rise as development continues and bridge rehabilitation is completed.
The road is also a vital access point for Sandbanks Provincial Park, which attracts more than 800,000 visitors annually, many traveling from eastern Ontario and Quebec.
To advance the estimated $29.5 million rehabilitation project, County council has formed a County Road 49 Working Group to advocate for funding and explore creative solutions, including the possibility of a community benefit fund to help cover the municipal share.
County leaders say the goal is to show senior governments that the community is united and committed to fixing one of Ontario’s most notorious roads, which has repeatedly appeared on CAA’s Worst Roads list, including being named Ontario’s worst road in 2016.
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