The expensive spring ritual of fixing potholes on small-town routes could be offset somewhat by a new provincial fund for road repairs in rural communities.

The province announced last week that municipalities with a maximum population of 10,000 can apply to the $10-million fund.

Eligible municipalities could receive up to $38,000 under the fund, a provincial news release said. Applications have to be in by Dec. 12.

The province estimates that nearly 60 per cent of Ontario's 444 municipalities could qualify.

"This program could be very useful not only for the infrastructure of roads, but also bridges that are very costly to replace and repair on a regular basis," Conmee Mayor Sheila Maxwell said on Wednesday.

Bridges are inspected twice a year, Maxwell noted.

The new fund "will help

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