The deteriorating condition of Streicher Line had some homeowners out at Wellesley council on Tuesday night asking for it to paved sooner rather than later.

“We realize Streicher Line has been addressed as a need to be paved,” said Gerald Yantzi, representing homeowners on the road. “I also understand in some discussions with taxpayers that this request has been addressed by letter as far back as 1998. We are here to see if we can move this forward faster.”

He noted that at Will McLaughlin’s retirement party, the former chief administrative officer said he hopes the township can follow the roads master plan to “support the economy of the township and Streicher Line should be paved to support the town’s economy.”

Yantzi noted their vehicles have endured premature damage to wheel bearings, brakes, and windshields due to the gravel and bumpy road. He estimates it takes almost 20 per cent more fuel to drive on gravel compared to asphalt.

“Much paving has been done in recent years to the east side of Wellesley Township,” Yantzi said. “We very much enjoy driving on Weimer Line, Hessen Strasse, Greenwood Hill Road, Moser Young Road and Herrgott Road. We feel that it is fair and equitable that some more paving be done on Wellesley west.”

He noted the heavy truck traffic the road sees, on top of regular residential traffic. General manager of community services, Kevin Beggs said gravel roads are always an issue.

“It’s not just Streicher Line; it’s always in the township of Wellesley,” Beggs said. “Certain times of the year the conditions are better. In 2013 we did an asset management plan. …We put it together with needs, services levels, different things for the roads in the township of Wellesley. At that time Streicher Line had been identified as a need to be paved. We have it slated in here to start in 2017 with the money we have, not with funding.”

If started in 2017 it would be completed by 2022. He explained they intend to pave the first block of Manser Road next year and start working on Streicher the following year by doing boreholes on the first block. They also plan to do the base work in 2016, so they’ll be ready to apply asphalt by 2017.

“If you looked at doing all of Streicher Line, not just asphalt, there’s some base work that’s going to have to be done in spots, so we’ll be doing boreholes and there’s going to be some surface work,” Beggs said. “We know there’s ditching to be done. There are three bridges in the center block, we all know that have gravel on top of them that will have to be removed and asphalt on top of the bridges. The total cost of that could be in the neighbourhood of $2.5 to $3 million.”

Yantzi said a heavy coat of gravel was put on the road last summer along with dust control treatment. But intense truck traffic damaged the road. It was eventually re-graded but no dust control added.

“Until paving occurs we wonder if there could be a second grading and possible dust control reapplied partway through the summer to help out,” Yantzi said. “Our feeling is this is past due for this project to be done and wonder what council can do to move this forward.”

Beggs said they’re always looking for funding opportunities through the provincial and federal government to get roadwork done. Weimer Line and Hessen Strasse were funded projects he said, and some of it was done through development charges.

“At one time we did apply for Streicher Line and were turned down,” Beggs said.