Local politicians weigh in on Maley Drive

Alternately called the “holy grail” of roads projects by supporters or “fiscal suicide” by detractors, the city's share will be about $26.7 million.

Should it proceed, the extension will provide a third east-west link in Greater Sudbury, along with The Kingsway and Lasalle Boulevard. Unlike those routes, however, it will bypass downtown and other busy roadways, and get heavy ore trucks off the city's main thoroughfares.

But critics argue that with little population growth in the forecast and the large pricetag, resources would be better put on repairing existing infrastructure, where there's a $700 million deficit already.

Mayor Brian Bigger has supported the project since his election, and said this week he's optimistic a formal announcement from the federal government will be made soon.

"I remain committed to Maley Drive,” Bigger said in an email. “The Maley Drive project has been a city priority for decades. It is an important part of the city's Official Plan, as well as the city's plan for an effective and sustainable road network."

All 12 city councillors were contacted by email for this story, and of those who responded by deadline, responses ranged from clear support to clear opposition.

Ward 7 Coun. Mike Jakubo says he's in favour of moving ahead with Maley because, in part, it will allow the city to shift heavy trucks away from residential traffic.

“I see the savings on roads resurfacing we will see on roads not fully fit for heavy traffic like Lasalle,” Jakubo said in an email. “I see the harm being done to structures along existing trucking routes that will be stopped and, yes, I see the congestion that will be lifted from Lasalle and The Kingsway if Maley is constructed.

“I really feel that Maley will also allow corridors such as Lasalle and The Kingsway to be re-purposed to allow for better and safer active transportation.”

Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini, however, says fixing Maley would mainly allow “foreign-owned, multi-national corporations to improve their profits.”

“Fixing the infrastructure is of equal value to the mining industry and the taxpayers of Sudbury, whereas committing the lion’s share of our financial resources to Maley Drive would be of minimal value to the taxpayers,” Vagnini said.

“As a representative of the constituents of Ward 2, I take direction from them and their directions are clearly in favour of the balanced benefits that improved infrastructure could provide to both sides of the issue.”

He advocates using money from upper levels of government to pay for infrastructure that will “serve everyone.”

Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan said he's willing to support Maley, as long as the project includes a “cluster” of roads that would be built at the same time.

“This network would include the Barrydowne extension to connect with the corner of Notre Dame and Bodson Drive in Hanmer; the extension of Main Street in Val Caron to connect with the Barrydowne Extension; and, the completion of the four laning of MR 35 to Azilda,” Kirwan wrote in an email.

“I would only support moving ahead with Maley Drive if all of the other roads were included in a massive simultaneous infrastructure investment. I would not support Maley Drive if it is the only road being constructed.”

By doing the projects simultaneously, Kirwan said heavy ore trucks will be taken off streets in the Valley and open the area up for residential development.

“And considering that over 50 per cent of all approved lots for development are north of Lasalle Boulevard, with most of them being found in Valley East, and considering that 44 per cent of the growth in population that occurred in Greater Sudbury between 2006 and 2011 was found in Valley East, it is clear that this is the community many people would like to reside in.”

Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer, however, argues that the whole city will benefit from having a third east-west corridor.

"We just have the two, basically with Lasalle and the Kingsway,” Sizer said. “And the heavy trucks — it's estimated that 1,500 of those large trucks would be taken off The Kingsway and Lasalle, daily I believe.

"And the extension will help the mining industry. We can't get away from it — 50 per cent of mining (traffic) crosses our roads here."

Sizer said local roads are currently currently in deplorable shape, and if Maley doesn't move forward, a new plan is needed to repair them.

"I said to staff, what happens if we don't get funding? What's plan B? Because we have to do something with it," he said.

"There's other benefits — there will be some short-term jobs created, and it will save people some time getting back and forth across the city and things like that. And there's also the fact we're paying with 33 cent dollars."

Ward 10 Coun. Deb McIntosh said she's reluctant to take a position on an issue that has yet to be discussed by the current city council.

“As with any project garnering significant amounts of community dollars, I will develop my opinions and decisions regarding Maley Drive on a well-developed business case,” McIntosh said in an email.

However, she said her priority is to fix existing infrastructure and to rethink the way the invest in roads.

“Before building any new roads, there needs to be a compelling economic case to justify expanding our road system,” she said. “I look forward to seeing a full report on the proposed Maley project and having a fulsome discussion with council at a future date; until then I will not be weighing in on either side.”