The Nation won't foot entire bill to restore landslide-hit road

After a spring landslide washed a good chunk of Villeneuve Road away, the municipality has learned it won't have to foot the bill for the entire repair.

Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde recently announced that the provincial government will provide the municipality with up to $437,000 through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP).

The funding will help cover costs for the repair and rebuilding of Villeneuve Road and engineering studies needed for the reinforcement of road stability in the future.

"I would like to commend the local officials and community for their actions and co-operation in response to the damages caused by the landslide," stated Lalonde in a press release. "Your efforts have been a tremendous help to the municipality."

The landslide occurred on March 27 and took out a 200-foot section of the road, located near St-Isidore. There were no injuries and no private property was damaged.

The Nation and South Nation Conservation staff met on site with a geotechnical engineer to evaluate the conditions and discuss plans to stabilize the site and reinstate the road.