Plans to fix the crumbling Talbot Trail from Blenheim to Wheatley continue with a public meeting on Thursday night.
The meeting at the Tilbury Arena is to get public feedback and concerns about rehabilitating Talbot Trail from 2nd Concession Line (Ellerbeck Road) to Port Road in Romney.
Chris Thibert, director of engineering with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, said there are several options for that stretch of road, including moving the route to the north away from the eroding shore but that would require buying property.
"We could either utilize existing road networks that are currently classified as gravel local roads and maybe it's just a requirement to now upgrade it to local arterial asphalt road or it might require having to do some land purchases," said Thibert.
Thibert said the municipality hears the urgent calls from the community to get the road reopened as soon as possible.
"They just want this road back open again. They realize that there's not only a historical type designation for this road but also the tourist aspect, the businesses that are affected, the homes that are affected, the travel, the commute, the fact that it's putting a little bit of a negative strain right now on some of our local roads as a result," he added.
Thibert said the Environmental Assessment started by the municipality to develop a transportation plan for Talbot Trail by early 2021 is mandatory and takes time but can also open up government funding later.
"It brings it to their ear so that if there's funding available in the future, we now have this recommendation and this report to help justify the need for that funding," Thibert said.
Parts of the Lake Erie shore along Talbot Trail have been eroding following large storms and high waves. In July 2019, this section of roadway was closed due to possible slope and road failure. Recent studies have identified that the bluff is expected to continue eroding and regressing in the future. A design study done by the engineering firm hired by the municipality said the slope has regressed approximately 35 metres since 1947 at a rate of approximately 0.5 metres each year.
The Talbot Trail public meeting is on Thursday at the Tilbury Arena from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. There is another community meeting in September but a date has not yet been set.