Based on a report from the municipal Director of Public Works presented on Monday, there are more positives than negatives about possibly transferring Main Street in Hawkesbury from the responsibility of the town to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell (UCPR).

On April 17, Hawkesbury council adopted a resolution requesting the transfer of responsibility for the 3.3 kilometre/two-mile section of road. On May 23, Mayor Robert Lefebvre introduced a notice of motion to UCPR council, introducing the transfer motion for consideration at the May 28 UCPR council meeting.

The report prepared by Director of Public Works Jonathan Wilson and presented to town council on Monday, May 12, identifies three major positive points for the town if the street is transferred to the regional government. The first point is that it would fully comply with the planning principles of the UCPR Official Plan and plays a role in the provincial transportation network. The second point is that the transfer would have a minimal budgetary impact for the UCPR, because at a length of only 3.3 kilometres, it represents less than one per cent of the UCPR’s road network. Additionally, maintenance costs are low at an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 annually. The third point is that it would improve the equity of municipal contributions and services among UCPR municipalities. Currently, Hawkesbury has no county road within its limits, despite its significant financial contributions to the UCPR.

The potential negatives of transferring Main Street to the UCPR identified in Wilson’s report are coordinating temporary closures for special events, coordinating with the UCPR over road designs, and coordinating sidewalk snow removal.

If the transfer proceeds, it would take effect on January 1, 2026. The UCPR would not be responsible for any of the costs associated with the $2.5 million rehabilitation project for the Louis P. Cécile Bridge taking place this summer.

Lefebvre, a strong proponent of uploading the street to the UCPR, described the report as a review of negatives and positives.

“I support this completely,” commented Councillor Jeanne Charlebois.

She also expressed hope that the COMZAC-BIA downtown agency would support the effort.