The village of Grenville is hoping to convince the Québec government to repave a long section of Route 344 by getting the support of three other municipalities the highway passes through.
On Monday, August 4, Grenville council adopted a resolution requesting that the Ministère des transports et de la mobilité durable complete an asphalt resurfacing of Route 344 between Saint-André-d’Argenteuil and the village of Grenville as well as widen and asphalt the shoulders on Route 344, at cycling routes, between Montée Saint-Philippe in Brownsburg-Chatham and the intersection of Route 344 providing access to the Long-Sault Bridge. The resolution requests that the ministry include the project in its five-year road program for 2025 to 2030.
Route 344 is also known as Route des Outaouais between Grenville and Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, rue Maple in Grenville, and chemin Scotch in part of Grenville-sur-la-Route.
The request includes that the rue Maple section of road within Grenville be completely resurfaced. For several months, the village of Grenville has been requesting proper resurfacing work be done on the busy road to eliminate the significant potholes, uneven pavement, and crevasses that have developed. Some asphalt patches were applied in July, but only at sporadic locations. The village has also requested a meeting with the Minister of Transport about the maintenance and poor condition of the highway.
Between Grenville and Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, Route 344 is also quite rough in sections and has only been patched sporadically.
Grenville Mayor Pierre Thauvette said that by including Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Brownsburg-Chatham, and Saint-André-d’Argenteuil in the request, they are hoping to increase the pressure on the Québec government to make a serious effort to repair the highway.
Thauvette did note that a small section of Route 344 was fully repaved earlier this summer in Saint-André-d’Argenteuil between Carillon and Saint- André-Est.
He said repaving Route 344 is a matter of safety for drivers and cyclists.
On August 4, Grenville council also adopted a resolution requesting the Ministère des transports et de la mobilité durable change the route of the Route verte cycling route at three locations. This would better showcase the villages of Saint-André-d’Argenteuil and Grenville, following Route 344 along the Ottawa River, between the Brownsburg-Chatham municipal campground and the heart of the village of Grenville. The municipalities involved with the paving resolution are also involved with the Route verte motion.
