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Heather Wright Photo
Drivers on Petrolia Line west of Nauvoo Road try to avoid a mess of potholes on the road Monday.

April 6, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent

Brooke-Alvinston councillors are wondering if Lambton County wants its road back.

The idea was floated by Councillor Craig Sanders who said the road is in rough shape and the
Brooke-Alvinston doesn’t have the cash to upgrade it.

This winter was hard on the chip-and-tar road. During February’s thaw and refreeze large
chunks of the road had deep holes with loose gravel thick enough to pull cars off course.

Sanders commended municipal staff for patching up the road, but says it needs more work.

The portion of the road in Middlesex County will be repaved next year making Petrolia Line a
“perfect road” from Corunna to Strathroy “except for that one section east of 79.

“I’m wondering if we can move forward into looking at the county taking it over next year,”
Sanders said.

The county did own the Brooke-Alvinston portion of Petrolia Line, says Mayor David Ferguson,
but it was downloaded to the municipality during the Mike Harris era. “I don’t know what the
reason was,” he added.

Sanders is concerned without help from Lambton, the patch of road may have to be returned
to gravel, since Brooke-Alvinston wouldn’t have the cash to repave it.

Council agreed to approach the county to see if it would take the road back.

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