Heather Wright/The Independent

Lasalle Line residents may have a break from the dust being kicked up by traffic. But they shouldn’t expect the Brooke-Alvinston road to be paved anytime soon.

Lasalle Line was turned back to gravel in 2024 when the cost of construction escalated. It’s remained gravel ever since.

Twenty-three homeowners wrote to council concerned about the dust and the safety issues it posed.

“This is not simply a minor inconvenience,” wrote Tyler Smith. “The dust covers vehicles, homes, windows, outdoor furniture, gardens and yards. It reduces visibility when traffic passes especially during dry weather and makes it difficult for residents to enjoy or properly use their own properties.”

And the problem is worse for those with health conditions.

“Our three-year-old has asthma. Our boy is almost always outside and very active. He has had multiple days already this year that he has had to spend the day on the couch due to difficulty breathing after spending a short amount of time outside when the wind is blowing the dust towards us,” wrote Meghen Sharp.

But by far the most common concern was the chance of an accident in the dust.

“When you meet an oncoming car or get behind a vehicle traveling the same direction the dust is so thick and lingers, you cannot see for a brief period. That brief period could mean not seeing someone potentially walking on the road or meeting another car and even seeing the road to know where you are while driving,” wrote Laura McPhail.

John and Jeanie Minten recounted an incident where they drove into a cloud of dust created by oncoming traffic with other drivers behind them.

“We couldn’t see for a while – hoping that vehicles behind were not travelling towards the middle…this is an accident waiting to happen.”

Councillors received the letters at the June 11 meeting. Public Works Superintendent Jamie Butler said he’d plan to put brine on the road. It’s a dust suppressant which needs to be used when the roads are a bit wet and the vegetation on the side of the road has grown in.

Some councillors, including Jenny Redick and Craig Sanders, wanted the municipality to commit to do two brine applications to
keep the dust down. It was a move Councillor Frank Nemcek opposed saying other residents on gravel roads would ask the same. One application costs about $5,000.

Nemcek wanted to leave it to the discretion of the public works department.

Sanders argued Lasalle Line is one of the busiest routes and needs extra attention.

In the end, council agreed to revisit the issue in a couple of months.

Councillors also agreed to have staff price out how much dolomite – a form of gravel – would be for the area so the next council could add the repair to the budget.