Huntsville seeks District approval to pave shoulders of Muskoka Road 3
Huntsville Council agreed to the staff recommendation to request permission from District of Muskoka to pave the shoulders on Muskoka Road 3, in the May 23, 2023, meeting.
The Town is requesting that the District assess the feasibility of having paved shoulders on this road and to provide feedback about it, along with design, implementation, and cost information.
The paved shoulders are a part of the Town’s initiatives to encourage and support active public transportation.
The Town would be responsible for covering fifty percent of the cost and the District the remaining half.
Councillor, Bob Stone, said, “This is an opportunity for us to have some paved shoulders for walking and biking. This is a small start to a big problem.”
Councillor, Helena Renwick, inquired about how far the shoulders would extend on the road.
Mayor, Nancy Alcock, advised that there would be two sections that would be paved. The starting point would be from Highway 11 south to Hibberds’s Lane, and the other portion would be Highway 11 to Etwell Road.
Deputy Mayor, Dan Armour, suggested the possibility that the Town may narrow the road lanes to create a wider path upon creating the shoulders.
Armour also suggested that the Town make this a regular request anytime they are dealing with District roads, as a way to continue to expand this initiative where opportunities arise. He added that he’s not “excited about the cost” even though it’s a fifty-fifty split.
Alcock expressed, “It’s exciting that we can move forward, especially in this area.”
