The Municipality of North Grenville and United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are still waiting to hear about funding for the 43 expansion project.
The $10 million joint application is for federal and provincial dollars, through Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program – Rural and Northern Stream.
Mayor Nancy Peckford says the municipality was hoping to hear good news in June. She noted with the cabinet shuffle and the fact that the project still has to be approved by the federal government, it’s more realistic to expect the final word by the end of the summer.
If approved, the federal government would cover $5 million and the province would pick up $3.3 million. The counties and municipality would be responsible for $1.7 million. The total cost of the project is around $25 million.
Peckford says she is still optimistic that the application will be successful. She noted she communicates with MPP Steve Clark’s office weekly on the project. Peckford says county representatives will be meeting with the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure during the AMO conference in August to discuss the file.
The draft plan includes widening 43, from the 416 to Somerville, into a four-lane roadway. It also includes streetlights up the middle of the road, bike lanes, sidewalks and boulevards with trees.