The city is looking at tapping into a reserve to help pay for road work this year - at what could be the cost of being able to pay for a similar amount of work in 2014.
Stephen Wintle, the city's manager of infrastructure services, told city council's budget committee Monday night that $4.1 million worth of road work is planned in 2013. But, only about $2.8 million worth of those projects are being covered by funding provided by the federal government via gas taxes.
The balance is being funded by exhausting a gas tax reserve created by the city.
Wintle said the city needs to spend about $4 million a year on its roads just to keep them in the state they are now.
"We're right on our target for spending for roads," said Wintle. "But next year we're going to have a bigger problem in meeting that $4-million target."
The $4 million target every year also does not include expanding the city's existing road network.
Wintle pointed to Marleau Avenue in Cornwall, which will likely need to be expanded at a cost of about $11 million. There's also a plan to extend Nick Kaned Drive beyond Marleau Avenue so that it links up with Tenth Street East - which would likewise have to be funded beyond the city's $4-million envelope.
"There are some fairly large outlays that could be on the horizon," said Wintle.
