Woolwich Township will be taking a comprehensive look at its roads this fall, in an attempt to develop a long-range plan for keeping the roads in good condition.

At the Sept. 8 council meeting, councillors approved AECOM Canada Limited as the consulting engineering firm for the road needs study.

The entire cost of the project is expected to cost $79,728.

Dan Kennaley, director of planning and engineering, said that this will not only help the township with its ongoing maintenance of the roads, but will help with long-range planning as well.

It will also help the township ascertain whether it makes sense for roads to be upgraded from gravel to asphalt.

The study will include a detailed inspection of all township roads, the development of a policy for “an acceptable pavement condition rating,” as well as traffic counts for all sections of township roads.

The last time the township conducted a road needs study was in 1990.

Councillor Mark Bauman noted the cost of the engineering firm.

“We could hire a person for one year,” said Bauman. “Does it really have to cost $80,000?”

Kennaley said that it would be “extremely good value for the money,” noting that the software used to conduct the study will be kept by the township.

“It will provide us with a better method for capital forecasting,” said Kennaley. “It will ensure when we are the question in the future, ‘Are we keeping up?’ that we will be able to answer that question very well.”

The motion to hire AECOM Canada Limited was unanimously passed by council.