Heather Wright/The Independent

The Town of Petrolia will spend over $300,000 for engineering services to rebuild about a half a kilometer of streets.

Mike Thompson, director of operations, says the town needs to plan to rebuild three smaller streets, King, Hickory and School, in the oldest part of the community.

“For several years King Street has been on staff’s radar as it has deterioratred signifcantly over the last decade,” he writes in a report to council. “In 2025 to date we have experienced two significant water main breaks.” He says the town’s long term capital plan calls for a full reconstruction.

One of the more significant problems on King is the hydro poles which are built into the street.

Thompson says Bluewater Power says they can be moved off the street. He tells The Independent the power company decided to continue using poles in the area instead of burying the hydro service.

King Street is about 350 meters long.

Hickory and School Streets also need new water, storm, and sanitary sewers, Thompson says.

“Hickory and School Streets are the remaining streets in town that do not have curb and gutter structure, with the road surface being beyond a shave and pave repair,” he writes. Some of the streets are mainly gravel.

Thompson says the two streets, both about 100 meters long would be rebuilt and sidewalks added.

The three streets all need civil engineering studies for preliminary and detailed designs which are needed to obtain grants for the work.

A cost for the projects has not been estimated yet, however Thompson writes it will cost about $201,885 for the engineering services related to King Street excluding any environmental inspections or testing of the materials during construction and $162,962 for engineering Hickory and School Streets.

Once the work is complete, Thompson said the town would be able to apply for grants. It’s possible some of the work could move ahead in 2026, particularly on King Street which is seen as a priority.