Palmer Road: From worst to first

By Kurt Weiss

Mayor Neil Ellis (centre) and staff celebrate the recently redone section of Palmer Road, running from Bridge Street West to Moira Street West. The ceremony was held at 1 PM yesterday afternoon. Photo by Kurt Weiss

Mayor Neil Ellis and contractors hope Belleville’s Palmer Road will be off the list of Ontario’s worst roads.

In the Canadian Automobile Association’s annual Worst Roads Competition, the reconstructed section of Palmer Road, running north-south from Bridge Street West to Moira Street West, was, at one time, the fourth worst road in Ontario. Last year it sat in the 18^th spot.

Ellis and company sent a message Tuesday at the ribbon cutting for the recently finished construction of Palmer Road.

“We’re going to send a picture to the CAA and say here, we don’t want to be on your list anymore,” Mayor Neil Ellis said.

The recently finished section marks the end of a much-awaited project that had a total budget of $3,298,000. It was comprised of $700,000 for watermain installation, with the rest being for property acquisitions, utility relocations and a left turn lane at the intersection of Moira Street West and Palmer Road.

The completion also marks another concern for residents in the area. Richard Abbott, a Palmer Road resident, said the project was a success apart from one major problem among homeowners.

“Other than a few people who are using it as a speedway, it’s a real improvement,” he said.

The Palmer Road project was completed October 4.