Road Reconstruction & Maintenance

Bradford West Gwillimbury is growing, but responsible growth also means taking care of the roads and infrastructure we already have.

As our road network gets busier and our infrastructure ages, we need a long-term approach that keeps roads, sidewalks and curbs in good condition while making smart use of taxpayer dollars.

As Mayor, I will make maintaining and renewing our existing infrastructure a priority — with decisions based on condition, safety, need and long-term value.

My Priorities

Prioritize the roads that need investment most. Use road condition, traffic, safety, infrastructure needs and long-term asset planning to determine where taxpayer dollars should be invested first.
Put preventative maintenance first. Expand the focus on rehabilitation and preventative work that can extend the life of our roads and reduce the need for more costly reconstruction.
Coordinate what’s above and below the road. When major road reconstruction is planned, assess watermains, wastewater, stormwater and other underground infrastructure so necessary work can be completed together wherever practical.
Build safer, more accessible streets. Use reconstruction projects as an opportunity to improve sidewalks, curbs, crossings, accessibility and other safety needs where appropriate.

Reduce unnecessary repeat construction. Strengthen coordination between the Town, utilities, developers, the County and other agencies so newly completed roads aren’t unnecessarily disrupted again.
Balance new growth with existing neighbourhoods. As we build infrastructure to support new development, continue investing in established neighbourhoods and the roads residents already depend on every day.
Stretch every infrastructure dollar further. Pursue provincial and federal infrastructure funding and make appropriate use of development charges and other funding sources so the cost of growth does not fall disproportionately on existing taxpayers.

My Action Plan

Strengthen BWG's Long-Term Road Renewal Plan

Road reconstruction should not be driven by short-term decisions.

I will support a multi-year approach that uses BWG’s asset management data to identify roads approaching the end of their useful life and plan rehabilitation and reconstruction before conditions become significantly worse — and more expensive to fix.

The goal is simple: invest at the right time to get the longest possible life from every taxpayer-funded road.

Get Ahead of Repairs With Preventative Maintenance

A road that can be rehabilitated today may not need to be completely reconstructed tomorrow.

I will push to make preventative maintenance a bigger part of our long-term infrastructure strategy, using the right treatment at the right point in a road’s lifecycle.

That means protecting infrastructure before it fails and reducing larger costs over the long term.

Coordinate Infrastructure Before We Dig

When BWG undertakes major road reconstruction, we should look beyond the pavement.

Watermains, wastewater systems, stormwater infrastructure, sidewalks, curbs and other assets should be reviewed as part of the project so necessary improvements can be coordinated wherever practical.

If we’re going to reconstruct a street, we should plan it properly and get as much of the work done at the same time as possible.

Reduce Construction Disruption

Construction will always cause some inconvenience, but good planning can reduce it.

I will push for stronger coordination of Town capital projects, utility work, development-related construction and other infrastructure projects to avoid unnecessary overlap, repeated road closures and situations where recently completed infrastructure has to be disturbed again.

For major projects, construction phasing and traffic management should also consider access for residents, local businesses, emergency services and school transportation.

Make Infrastructure Spending Go Further

With the amount of infrastructure BWG will need in the years ahead, we cannot rely on property taxpayers alone.

As Mayor, I will actively pursue infrastructure funding from the Province and federal government and work with the County and other partners where responsibilities overlap.

I will also push to ensure growth-related infrastructure is funded through development charges and other available growth-related revenues wherever permitted.

Protect Existing Neighbourhoods As BWG Grows

Growth cannot mean all of our attention and investment goes toward new development.

Residents in established neighbourhoods deserve well-maintained roads, sidewalks and infrastructure too.

I will work to ensure our capital planning strikes the right balance between building the infrastructure our future requires and maintaining the infrastructure residents rely on today.

Building for the Long Term

Road reconstruction is one of the largest and most visible investments a municipality makes. We need to get those decisions right.

My approach will be focused on planning ahead, maintaining infrastructure before it fails, coordinating projects, minimizing disruption and getting the best possible value from every dollar we invest.