Roads

The roads network of roads the Municipality of Austin maintains includes some 70 km of roads. The main roads were built many years ago. The width of the road right-of-way is limited, drainage is often problematic and the infrastructure inadequate in terms of modern construction standards.

About fifteen years ago, the municipality undertook a major overhaul of its roads, rebuilding the foundations and providing appropriate drainage and paving the roads where possible, while following a prudent financial course. The priorities for intervention have been established in relation to the degree of use of the roads. Thus work has been completed on North Road, from chemin du Lac Malaga to Route112, and on Hopps Road. Work on the main part of Millington Road was completed in 2005.

The redevelopment of the southern part of North Road has begun. Major drainage work and construction of the road surface were undertaken in 2009. Because this stretch of road is about 7 km long, the costs are considerable. The municipal council has therefore taken advantage of funding from the Gas Tax Fund for the infrastructure program for the first section of the work.

In 2011, the municipality intends to pave this 7-km stretch. It will use a grant of $609,397 from the Gas Tax Fund.

At the request of property owners in several associations in the northern sector of the municipality, the Council agreed to the municipalisation of roads in their sector. Many of these private roads were built before municipal by-laws were adopted to regulate the quality of the service road network. Today, bringing these private roads up to norms represents a considerable investment, borne by the property owners served. The council is acting transparently by consulting all the property owners concerned about the municipal takeover process so that no decision that will have an impact on their taxes will be taken without giving them an opportunity to express their views.

Certain roads in the Domaine Mont-Orford and the main road in the Four Seasons Development are now municipal roads. In 2011, other roads in two sectors of the Four Seasons Development will be taken over by the municipality. Other requests are under study.