SHEGUIANDAH—Permanent and seasonal residents, cottagers and municipal representatives are pleased that an agreement has been reached between the municipality of Assiginack and the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) that will see vast improvements made to the condition of Red Lodge Road and all necessary maintenance work to be carried out and continued by the two municipalities in the future.
An agreement has been signed by both municipalities for the road—which will get gravel laid this fall and tar and chip paving next year—for the maintenance and repair of a roadway that is a boundary between the two municipalities and that portion of roadway used in lieu of the boundary and including the bridges thereon, that is their duty to maintain and repair.
“And whereas, pursuant to the said section, the corporations of the Township of Assiginack and the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands respectively deem it necessary to enter into such agreement for the maintenance and repair of Red Lodge Road. They have both agreed to provide routine maintenance and repairs to Red Lodge Road on a year-round, rotating basis for three years, with automatic renewal until such time this agreement is terminated in writing by either party,” the agreement signed by the two parties earlier this month states.
Tony Stokes, president of the Manitou Birches Road Association states, “this is great news. Anyone who has driven the road knows the state the road can be and has been over the years.” He said the state of the road over the years has at times presented a safety issue. “With it having been so dry this summer there has been a lot of dust on the road, and during the month of July, for example, we didn’t receive much rain. A lot of people use that road to walk, run and bicycle. With the dust this summer, it can be very annoying to everyone and visibility for drivers and those using the road can be impaired.”
“So having this road repaired, paved and properly maintained will help for safety and recreation reasons,” said Mr. Stokes. “NEMI’s concern at one point was that they didn’t feel they had enough taxpayers based on the road area to enter into an agreement to fix the road and for joint maintenance of the road. It is great to see both townships on board.”
Jean Wong of the Red Lodge Resort said the agreement “is wonderful news.” Asked if her customers will be happy with the news said, “Yes. I can’t imagine they wouldn’t be happy with this news. It will be good for everyone.”
Alton Hobbs Assiginack CAO told The Expositor, “It is a boundary road, shared by the two municipalities of NEMI and Assiginack. Neither can do all the necessary work on the road without the other on board. I think people who live on the road will be happy with the results.”
Al MacNevin, NEMI Mayor said, “we always said we would join in making the major improvements to the road, hard surfacing, if the base of the road was fixed and rebuilt. This will now take place.”
“It is very good news,” the mayor added. “Council had approved the agreement at a recent meeting, and I signed the agreement earlier this week.”
“I’m so happy this is going forward, and major work will take place to rebuild the road,” stated Assiginack Mayor Brenda Reid.
Mr. Stokes had told The Expositor last year when he and other residents raised concerns with the road in the spring, “The roads are in terrible shape. Two weeks ago when I was up there, the road had just been graded. It was terrible. We have to drive down Red Lodge Road to get to our cottage road. He explained at the time, “there are people on both sides of the road, and guests of the Red Lake Lodge. And there are lots of people that use the road to exercise, walk, bike and run. But with all the potholes on the road it is a hazard, and everyone has to be careful travelling on the road.”
