By Laura Lennie, News Staff

McNeilly Road is getting a facelift.

The road will soon undergo reconstruction north of Barton Street to the Canadian National Railway tracks.

Work will include road leveling, ditch fill-in and resident sump pump connection to the storm sewer.

“There will be curbs on the new roadway and catch basins, so that all water from the road will go into a catch basin,” said area councillor Brenda Johnson, adding the road will be about seven feet wider when completed.

“There will be no sidewalks installed at this time; they will come later with the extension of Arvin Avenue at the request of the majority of the residents.”

Johnson said the city has awarded the contract for the $3.53-million project, with money coming from both the capital budget and development charges.

Staff have yet to hold a pre-construction meeting with the contractor, she added.

“When that is done, a letter will be sent to the homeowners with the details of the project and that will include start dates and approximate time of completion,” Johnson said. “It will also include contact names for residents to call if they have any further questions or issues during the construction.”

Johnson said the road has been neglected far too long.

“With this section of McNeilly Road, these upgrades are long overdue,” she said. “Anytime a road is improved and flooding is mitigated, it is good for the community.”