Fort Frances council ends provincial funding request for roundabout project

Fort Frances council is officially withdrawing an application for provincial funding related to a proposed roundabout.

It comes after council was split on a decision not to award a contract for the design work of the project proposed for the Central Avenue intersection at 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets.

Chief Administrative Officer Marcel Michaels indicated at the last council meeting that the contract’s decision would likely be left for the next council.

Information and Growth Manager Travis Rob expressed concern on Monday with the timing of that happening.

“If delayed to the next council, there wouldn’t be enough time in the grant window remaining to undertake the work prior to the ending of the grant window,” says Rob.

“Connecting Link won’t do an extension on that grant window for us, so we are left with having to withdraw our application.”

Withdrawing the application means $180,000 in provincial funding through its Connecting Links program to cover 90% of the design work costs is forfeited.

Some councillors remain concerned about the cost of the roundabout.

A consultant’s report identified a nearly $5 million price tag.

It also pegged costs to replace the traffic lights and bring the intersection up to Ministry of Transportation standards at about $3 million.

Councillor Bill Morrison says he would still like a further breakdown of those costs and consideration of other options to improve the area.

“I just want to give us some options out there, and I’m willing to vote again,” says Morrison.

“If we have seen some other options, I’m willing to look at the whole situation. That’s what I said in the beginning, I just want to see some options.”

In his report to council, Rob stated that re-applying to the provincial government for funding of an alternative design option may not be successful, given that a third-party report supports a roundabout as the best option for the intersection.

A majority of council also voted to accept that recommendation.

Rob adds in the report that it would also lead to any work at the intersection being borne by local taxpayers.