Photo: Council heard a public delegation from Bo Cassidy and Dwayne Huisman, who urged the municipality to pursue improvements to the heavily travelled road. Screenshot

Road conditions on Range Road 19-3 were the focus of a lengthy public delegation at the County of Stettler council meeting on July 8, as Bo Cassidy and Dwayne Huisman asked council to consider improvements to the heavily travelled route.

The pair said the road's foundation remains in good condition, but argued the surface material is causing ongoing maintenance issues. Huisman told council he believes the road's underlying base remains sound, but said the ditch slopes require attention.

"With the heavier volume of traffic that's on that road, it kind of forces some of the traffic more towards the center," he said.

They added that the gravel contains too many fine particles, preventing water from draining properly and contributing to muddy conditions and rutting.

Reeve Larry Clark said council recognizes the condition of Road 19-3 but must also weigh the needs of the county's entire road network against its available budget.

"Ultimately in a perfect world we pave every road we have in the County of Stettler and we'd be home free, but we're not," he said. "So, I guess just so you guys know that it is a fiscal matter as much as it is anything."

Administration told council the county has tested several dust suppressant products over the years, including CleanTrak, but rising costs have made large-scale application difficult to sustain. As an alternative, council discussed a hybrid approach that would apply dust suppressant only to the highest-traffic sections of Road 19-3, particularly near businesses, while leaving other sections untreated to compare performance and costs over time.

Coun. Justin Stevens suggested the county could also explore compacting the road surface immediately after applying dust suppressant, a step he said could help reduce the wagon-track effect created by traffic.

Later in the meeting, administration gave council a broader update on road conditions across the county following heavy rainfall in late June and early July. Director of Operations Greg Jackson said crews have been using 1.5-inch crushed gravel to stabilize soft sections.

Council directed administration to return with options for future surface treatment on Road 19-3 at a later meeting. The road will also be included in an upcoming council road tour, giving members a chance to assess conditions firsthand before further decisions are made.

Council accepted the road update report for information.