Niagara Falls city council needs more money to give Niagara’s worst roads an extreme makeover

The damage on Dorchester road runs deep. Years of patching and re-patching work has turned the Niagara Falls road into an obstacle course. Now city council is asking for nearly $1 million to give it a makeover.

In December council agreed to dole out $500 000 to the rehabilitation of the road, but now city staff is saying they’ll need nearly double that.

“Because we’re going to do the whole road right from Lundy’s Lane to Mcleod road, its going to be a bigger stretch of road and we’re going to re-do the whole thing.” Jim Diodati, mayor.

Staff is recommending an additional $400 000 come from the city’s federal gas tax program.

Over the years this section of the road has been patched and re-patched so many times that its had a major impact on the drive ability of the road. The main road that serves both tourists and locals has even been featured on the annual CAA worst roads campaign.

“This is going to be a proper topical rebuild. We call it pave and shave, so it’ll be good enough to last us 10 years, because right now we’re just patching on top of patching on top of patching.”

It’s not a permanent solution, but Mayor Jim Diodati says that has to wait until the construction of a new storm sewer outlet is complete.

Staff will bring their report before council Tuesday evening and if it’s approved, the mayor says he’d life to see work begin in the fall.