Belleville approves $1.34M to resurface Phillipston Rd for $3.5M in 2026 instead of full reconstruction and fixing visibility issues

Belleville has shifted the strategy for Phillipston Road from a $20M long-term reconstruction and fixing visibility issues to immediate resurfacing to address its “extremely poor state of repair”.

Phillipston Road has deteriorated to an extremely poor state of repair and is currently performing below acceptable service levels as defined in the City’s Asset Management Plan and Roads Needs Study. Field observations and condition data indicate advanced surface distress, including uneven surfaces, significant cracking, potholing, and localized base failures, all of which are contributing to reduced ride quality, significant maintenance demands, and potential safety concerns for users.

• 2021 – Phillipston Road was first identified as a Capital project (1.009) to address poor pavement conditions and to address safety concerns associated with poor visibility due to sharp-crest hills.
• 2003 – Preliminary design prepared including “flattening” of the sharp-crest hills to improve road visibility. However, due to the significant grading required to “flatten” the hills, the design would result in substantial removal of excess soils to ‘flatten’ hills, tree removals, utility pole relocations, property acquisition, and significant negative impacts on several private driveways.
• 2023 – Put on hold pending new staff hires.
• 2025 – Design re-commenced.

The Engineering Department had planned to complete a new detailed design and hold a public consultation centre for 2026, with $800,000 allocated in the capital budget which also included monies for property acquisition and utility relocation. The new design option would result in reducing impacts on adjacent properties and utilities. However, significant utility relocations and property acquisitions would still be necessary.

Phillipston Rd consists mostly of a large number of dirt access paths to farm fields, in addition to:

• Residential gravel driveways:
  • 61
  • 261
  • 261
  • 381
  • 464
  • 631
  • 780
  • 792
  • 803
  • 804
• 704 – SusGlobal Energy Belleville Ltd

Design options were explored to reduce the impacts to driveways, tree removal, property requirements, and utility relocations.

The geometric concerns related to crest curves and sightlines will be addressed through enhanced signage, pavement markings, and other traffic control measures.

Funding

Funded by:

• $150,000 from the Asset Management Reserve Fund
• $45,000 from the 2026 Capital Budget 1.014 Pavement Sealing in the amount of
• $350,000 from the 2026 Capital Budget 1.012 Shave and Pave Program
• $800,000 cancelling 2026 Capital Budget 1.011 Phillipston Road – Property / Utilities / Approvals