BY PAUL MITCHELLNorth Country This Week

CANTON - Once completed, a stretch of the Miner Street Road from the village limits to Taylor Park will have two 10-foot driving lanes and mainly two 3-foot shoulders for pedestrian and bicycle use.

That decision was made by the Canton Town Board at a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 4.

It’s been a long, drawn-out endeavor for town officials and Town Highway Superintendent Steven Smith with original plans calling for two 10-foot travel lanes and two 5-foot pedestrian and bicycling lanes. But once construction got underway, it was determined this roadway was not wide enough to accommodate these specs.

Town attorney Eric Gustafson said he inspected the site with Smith, architect Brooks Washburn, Aaron Jarvis from Tisdell Associates, and a representative from Sheehan Construction.

“I’m not sure where the board is at but it seems pretty clear the original plan isn’t going to fit within the physical boundaries,” said Gustafson. “There just isn’t room.”

It was noted that Washburn said the bike lanes could be widened paving was extended beyond the recently constructed road base.

Washburn said the repairs could be made if the road did break down, according to Gustafson.

That concept did not sit well with the highway superintendent and town board members.

Smith said putting asphalt off the road base would create drainage problems and cause damages when the first heavy truck pulls off onto the shoulder.

Smith told board members and a handful of residents in attendance that a total width of 26 feet is only applicable until 600 feet from Taylor Park, where 28 feet could be put in place.

Trustee James T. Smith said he has been involved in the project since day one and supporting the project.

“It was a good idea to get something to Taylor Park. The plans looked good and it wasn’t until the implementation phase that issues arose,” Smith said. “I’m not in favor of putting something in place that we are fairly certain will fail.”

Trustee Wayne Cuthbert agreed.

“The idea was thought through well but the design was not. Let’s do it right and make it last,” he said.

In the end, Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley and the four board members placed their trust in Smith and unanimously approved the reconstruction plan.

The road has been milled but it’s not known when paving will take place. The town contracted with the St. Lawrence County Highway Department to perform the paving but county officials say that may no longer be possible due to extensive emergency repair work from Hurricane Debby on Aug. 9.

The town may have to hire a private company for the paving work.