91原创 Township will move forward with upgrades to the oldest stretch of paved road in the community, with a 鈥渉ybrid option鈥� that repairs the crumbling surface and commemorates the original paving.

Old Yale Road from Fraser Highway to 216th Street was the first paved route in 91原创, going back to the 1920s.

However, the original concrete panels that made up the road surface are now cracked and crumbling, and in some places are more patched than original material.

At an open house in late 2023, the Township put forward three options, labelled conservation, commemoration, and reconstruction. More than half of respondents to a survey picked reconstruction as their preferred option.

At the council meeting on Dec. 18, Mayor Eric Woodward called for a 鈥渉ybrid option鈥� that would include reconstruction with some heritage commemoration as well.

This would include about 150 metres of concrete road, reconstructed to be like the original paving, near Five Corners.

Most of the questions from council were about what that would look like in practice, including whether the rural stretch of the road, west of Murrayville鈥檚 Five Corners neighbourhood, would have sidewalks, trails, or bike paths.

鈥淲e all know how many people use it for vehicle traffic despite its state,鈥� said Councillor Michael Pratt, but it was also a popular way to get around on foot or bike.

Coun. Misty vanPopta wanted to ensure that a section of 150 metres of concrete road would reach all the way to 215th Street.

The project鈥檚 estimated cost will be somewhere between $8.7 million and $9.2 million. Staff will put together a detailed design and budget for the project before returning to council for a final approval.

Council approved the hybrid plan unanimously.