Infrastructure remains a top concern for Tiny Township, and its network along Tiny Beaches Rd. in Balm Beach are due for an upgrade.
A tender for a detailed review of Tiny Beaches Rd. was awarded to R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited for nearly $59,000 at the recent regular meeting of council.
According to public works director Tim Leitch: “This report came as a result of our 2021 transportation master plan, which helps us spell out the next 10 to 15 years for how we’re going to develop our transportation network to encourage things like active transportation and safe transportation of goods and services.”
Tiny Beaches Road between Conc. 8 and 11 was of notable concern due to high volumes of traffic in the summer months, as Balm Beach is located at the end of what was once known as the 10th concession.
“We looked to have a few different studies along with this, to find out how we can move people and cars and vehicles through this area safely,” said Leitch, “and there are some things that we’re looking at in there like one way streets… how we can provide safe lanes for people to walk and bike in.”
Within the 2023 budget, township staff anticipated that upcoming road resurfacing would also allow for a consulting firm to do a survey and review of various infrastructure aspects, and provide a report and options for Tiny to consider.
Exploring active transportation on the Tiny Beaches Rd. section would be included in the report, as well as schematic drawings, and a review to consider converting portions of Oliver Dr., Second St., and Tiny Beaches Rd. to one-way traffic.
“Did you know when you go down Tiny Beaches Road, there’s some sections of that road that are 15 to 20 feet wide? Not very wide, hardly enough for two lanes of traffic,” stated Leitch. “That’s going to be the concerns that we want to address through this.”
Additionally, exploration of critical drainage culverts would be on the review.
“Anybody who lives in the area is aware that it is very susceptible to drainage issues,” said Leitch, “especially when we have significant rainfalls. That will also be part of our study – to make sure that we are managing our water better through that area and to prevent issues that occur, especially when we see some of the dramatic rain events that we typically get.”
He added that the reason the tender was expedited through council procedure instead of the committee of the whole was for staff to take advantage of field survey work before significant snowfall covered the ground.
Council approved the $58,660 tender to R.J. Burnside & Associates, with funds taken from the capital budget.
The Tiny Beaches Road Design tender report can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website.
Archives of council meetings are available to view on the Township’s YouTube channel.
