Upon completion of the Highway 7 rehabilitation through Rockwood, both township and provincial officials say they would consider Guelph-Eramosa taking over control of that stretch of the highway.
“We are certainly open to discussing the options … We’d love to have more control over that strip,” Mayor Chris White said last week, following a Ministry of Transportation (MTO) public meeting on the proposed Highway 7 upgrades.
Robert Bakalarczyk, senior project engineer with the MTO, said Highway 7 through Rockwood “would be a good candidate” to be taken over by the municipality and the ministry “would be prepared to enter into discussions with the township after the project is complete.”
However, Bakalarczyk added such discussions are also dependent on the completion of the province-wide municipal roads and bridges review, which is currently under way.
The purpose of the public meeting on June 22 was to explain and identify the need for the MTO’s detailed design, provide an update on the ongoing environmental assessment and outline the next steps in the process.
The 4.2km study area runs northeast on Alma Street from just beyond Fall Street to the corner of Main Street, and southeast along Main past the intersection with Halton Regional Road 32.
The rehabilitation project, which Bakalarczyk said is expected to cost around $8-million, includes:
– reconstructing the road;
– rehabilitating the Eramosa River bridge;
– fixing the existing storm sewer system as required;
– replacing existing sidewalks, curbs and gutters. and paved shoulders;
– extending or replacing culverts; and
– modifying commercial and private entrances as required.
Bakalarczyk said the main concerns he heard from over 185 residents at the meeting were ensuring access to local businesses during construction and the need for continuous sidewalks through the study area. Sidewalks are a municipal responsibility, he noted, but the MTO would be open to a cost sharing agreement.
White said the township could realize huge savings if it proceeds with sidewalk improvements during construction of the MTO project.
“The bottom line concern, of course, is safety,” White said, adding the primary goal is to have sidewalks on both sides of the highway, and failing that, to provide a safe pedestrian crossing.
It’s extremely important, the mayor explained, for Rockwood to become a more “walkable community,” with those living in the southern part of Rockwood able to access the commercial businesses along Highway 7 through the village.
The idea of a bypass around Rockwood was raised by several residents, but it appears logistical difficulties and financial constraints ultimately ruled out that option, White said.
One thing the MTO has committed to, Bakalarczyk said, is keeping one lane of traffic open during the 24-week rehabilitation of the Eramosa River bridge, which will include:
– repairing and repaving the bridge deck;
– repairing the deck soffit, fascia, piers, and abutments;
– reconstructing and widening sidewalks;
– strengthening the retaining walls; and
– adding new steel railings.
Yet the MTO’s preferred option for replacing the Richardson’s Creek culvert is closing the highway for two to three weeks during that work, with traffic detoured along Halton Regional Road 32 to County Road 44 and then back to Highway 7, west of the village.
However, White said several people at the public meeting seemed to think it may be possible to bore the hole for the culvert in order to minimize the impact on traffic.
Subject to MTO funding and approval, Bakalarczyk said overall project construction should begin in spring 2011 and wrap up by fall 2012.
The next steps for the MTO include meeting with property owners affected by proposed changes to existing entrances, reviewing and considering comments received at last week’s meeting, preparing a “transportation environmental study report” and completing the final detailed design.
Bakalarczyk and White said they think last week’s meeting was a success.
