County Warden Chris White joked that the new highway between Kitchener and Guelph has “been on the books since 1804” – and while that remark gained a few chuckles, there is some progress on the new route.
Alla Dinerman, the senior project manager of the MMM Group, presented the design phase of the highway to county council on April 28.
The approved features from an environmental assessment includes an 18km, four lane divided freeway.
It will have six interchanges, including two at the freeway in Kitchener.
There will also be five separated sideroad crossings, four crossings of major watercourses, 34 bridges, including a high level bridge over the Grand River, and the estimated cost of the pro jet is $400-million, which includes property costs and construction.
To date, the horizontal and vertical design has been done, there has been extensive investigation of foundations for the structures, there are 41 preliminary design structures, an environmental inventory and impact assessments of the design on aquatic and terrestrial habitat and species, archaeological and built heritage resources.
Dinerman said there has also been consultation with First Nations, municipalities, and agencies.
She outlined several options that are being considered for ramp placements. One recommendation is to the close the existing Ebycrest Road north of the existing Highway 7 and provide a cul-de-sac. She said that would eliminate the potential for intra-regional traffic through that residential area, and also cut the number of access points near the interchange.
After public meetings, and considering the comments, Dinerman said there is a 30-day waiting period, then the decision must be taken to do “staged construction” using the design and build method, or just build it, which would allow for earlier completion.
Councillor Shawn Watters asked if the road would double the capacity for traffic between the two cities. The current Highway 7 between the two urban centres has been a heavily-travelled nightmare for traffic for years.
Dinerman said the new road would “more than double the capacity.”
Councillor Bruce Whale asked if there are complaints after the public meetings, will that mean a large delay.
Dinerman said if the complaints can be “reasonably addressed, it could be a quick process.”
