Local citizens now have a little more time to submit comments concerning the Ministry of Transportation’s latest design proposals for Highway 7/8.
In a letter to the Agriculture Business Community (ABC), Brenda Jamieson, project manager from AECOM (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations and Management) announced the submission date for comments will be extended from Sept. 28, to Oct. 31.
“I’m pleased that our communities will have more time to study the ministry’s proposals and submit their feedback,” said Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece. “Fall is a busy time of year for our farmers, and we need to make sure their views are heard.”
He continued: “I want to congratulate the leadership and membership of ABC for speaking up; they’ve been very effective advocates for the people in our area who this project could affect.”
ABC had submitted an Aug. 13 letter to Jamieson and Charles Organ from the Ministry of Transportation to request the extension to allow more time to conduct research and consult its membership. Pettapiece followed up with a letter to provincial transportation minister Bob Chiarelli, endorsing ABC’s request.
Pettapiece also highlighted ABC’s additional request for further information from project officials regarding each of the ministry’s design alternatives, including the total amount of agricultural land that would be taken, the number of homes and buildings that would be taken, total affected acreage and details surrounding potential road closures and traffic flow. Jamieson’s letter promised that this information would be forwarded to ABC and be made publicly available on the project study website by Sept. 21.
Information on the Highway 7/8 corridor study, including how to submit feedback, can be found online at www.7and8corridorstudy.ca. Pettapiece is encouraging anyone who provides feedback to the project study team to send him a copy of their comments at randy.pettapiececo@pc.ola.org.
