‘Patch repairs’ not an option as region looks to resurface Ira Needles

Drivers who frequent the west side of Kitchener will know of the bumps, potholes, and otherwise harsh conditions seen on Ira Needles Boulevard, but now, the region seems to have also taken notice.

A new report is set to be put in front of regional councillors with the hopes of resurfacing the major roadway.

It comes after the region said it’s received a number of complaints, particularly over this latest winter season, regarding a portion of Ira Needles between Highway 7/8 and Erb Street West.

“The surface condition of Ira Needles is past the point of patch repairs and requires a new surface to provide continued safe operation of the road, and in a state of good repair,” the report said.

The report, which is headed for the region’s Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee, stated that the proper resurfacing work would cost around $4.5 million to get done, needing the funds to be approved through the region’s capital budget.

The resurfacing project would specifically stretch from Yellow Birch Drive, which is located just north of Highway 7/8, through to West Hill Drive, which is just south of Erb Street West

In most cases, projects of this scale would take years of planning to get done; however, the report said that it could all be achieved before 2026 comes to a close due to the fact that no new design work is needed.

The road itself has been named as the worst roadway in Waterloo Region through CAA’s Worst Roads campaign, which went so far as to name it amongst the 5 worst roadways across southwestern Ontario.

This is due to the large number of potholes seen in recent years, due in part to a poor seam between those original lanes of asphalt and subsequent newer lanes being added over time.

Regional staff said they are recommending “a more extensive resurfacing treatment consisting of removal and replacement of the top asphalt surface.”

That report is set to be put in front of regional councillors at the next Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 5.