GUELPH – Reconstruction of Wellington Road 46 from McLean Road to Wellington Road 34 will be completed in 2020 as designed and awarded.
The project will include a four-lane configuration and the construction of two-lane roundabouts at the Wellington Road 46 intersections with Gilmour Road and Wellington Road 34.
Council approved a roads committee recommendation on Feb. 27.
Council also decided that, following the reconstruction project, a traffic impact study will be implemented to review possible future lane re-configurations and determine the appropriate project funding sources.
Council also directed the re-configuration of the four lane cross-section to an alternative layout be implemented if supported by the traffic impact study once the Morriston bypass is in place.
At the Oct. 8, 2019 roads committee meeting, Puslinch councillor John Sepulis provided a presentation to the committee on reconfiguring pavement markings through Aberfoyle.
The presentation included a request from Puslinch Township that the county consider reconfiguring pavement markings as part of current construction to provide:
– one lane for northbound traffic;
– one lane for southbound traffic;
– one centre lane;
– one parking lane; and
– one lane through roundabouts.
The committee directed staff to report back on development charges and environmental assessment implications in regards to lane reclassifications for Wellington Road 46 through Aberfoyle.
After reviewing a staff report from county engineer Don Kudo at its Feb. 11 meeting, the roads committee recommended proceeding with the project as awarded and designed.
“The committee was very much in favour of supporting Puslinch’s request, if possible, to make Aberfoyle a more people-friendly community with County Road 46 running through it …” said roads committee chair councillor Andy Lennox.
“But there was a number of challenges with that, such as the contract already being created, the construction proceeding to the next level, and not having a good idea of what would happen to the traffic if we were to do that. Plus there was some financial considerations as well.”
Lennox continued, “Part of the discussion with that too was the idea we would like to encourage more of the traffic from the City of Guelph to the 401 and south to use the Hanlon, which is an Ontario highway …. intended to be an arterial road, and move them away from our local communities.”
