Prince Edward County residents are having their say on the impact of County Road 49 conditions, strengthening the municipal case for federal funding to fix the oft-problematic roadway.
Hundreds of people recently took the opportunity to share how the poor condition of County Road 49 impacts them in a short survey.
Of the 347 respondents, impact to their vehicle was their top concern (309) followed by commute to appointments (200) and commute to work (83).
36 respondents said the road impacts their business. Just 10 respondents said they were not impacted by the road condition.
Many respondents also shared more details about the impact through the open-ended survey question. People described damage to their vehicles, the lengths they go to avoid County Road 49, their safety concerns, and the reputational damage to the municipality. Some examples include:
- “I will NOT drive it unless there is literally no other choice given how hard it is on vehicles with potholes and debris, never mind how much more dangerous it has become in winter due to the same issues.”
- “Ottawa resident who frequently vacations in the area with my travel trailer towed behind my SUV. Shockingly unsafe road for tourists towing RVs.”
- “The highway is in such poor shape; it is beyond embarrassing.”
Approximately half of the $52.3 million rehabilitation project remains unfunded. Earlier this year, the Province of Ontario allocated nearly $20 million from the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Fund to support the rehabilitation of County Road 49. County Council approved $7.8 million in the 2024 municipal budget for the project.
Municipal and provincial funding is supporting work on the urban portion of County Road 49 in Picton, also known as phase 3 reconstruction of Picton Main Street. That work from Spencer Street to 100 metres north of Folkard Lane is currently underway and will continue through 2026.
The municipality is asking the federal government to step up and provide funding to make the project a reality.
While in Ottawa for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in August, Mayor Ferguson and Interim CAO Adam Goheen met with staff from Transport Canada and Chris Malette, Member of Parliament for the Bay of Quinte, to discuss the rehabilitation of County Road 49. The Mayor has also shared letters of support for the project from community members, organizations, and businesses.
