Puslinch councillors continue efforts to ensure the Morriston bypass project is not forgotten.
Before council started, members discussed the recent announcement that the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be playing their CFL home games at the University of Guelph next season.
That announcement was met with a Guelph Mercury editorial cartoon depicting fans riding through the congestion in Morriston to get to and from the games.
Councillors quipped that if Transport Minister Bob Chiarelli was a Ti-Cat fan, perhaps council should offer to drive him to one of the games – through Morriston – to better illustrate the traffic within the small community.
As official discussions came, councillor Susan Fielding noted a conflict of interest.
Discussion began noting the letter from Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott regarding his letter to Transport Minister Bob Chiarelli regarding his resolution calling for the Morriston bypass to be placed on the Ministry of Transportation’s five year plan for highway construction and for immediate interim measures to be taken to calm traffic and improve safety for Morriston residents.
The resolution read: “That, in the opinion of this House, the Minister of Transportation should prioritize the Highway 6 Morriston Bypass project by placing it on the Southern Highways Program, the Ministry’s five-year investment plan in highway construction for Southern Ontario; and in the short term, support immediate measures to calm highway traffic though Morriston in the Township of Puslinch.”
Arnott had intended to personally hand-deliver this letter in the Ontario Legislature but was unable to do so due to government’s decision to prorogue the Legislature.
Arnott noted the resolution followed up on recent actions, including: attending a community meeting, writing to area MPPs to seek support for the project, and meeting with Chirarelli, along with Township of Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever and other municipal representatives.
While the resolution “died on the Order Paper,” along with all the other bills before the government prior to the prorogue of the Legislature, Arnott said he “would once again like to reiterate the importance of this project to our community and ask for your support in moving this project forward.”
Lever also noted council had copies of emails from William Knetsch and Chiarelli.
Knetsch wrote, “As you can see by the attachment we are moving forward and I believe the minister is in full support in our efforts to improve the Morriston corridor. I want to thank the Hon. Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Transportation personally for his support on this critical issue. At this point I am trying to get information from Hydro One on what they will allow us to do to improve lighting and putting up banners on the hydro poles through our village of Morriston. I am also putting together a list of the cost on all approved items to create road calming measures through Morriston with help from Kevin Plut from the MTO. I also want to thank everyone involved for their continued support to achieve our goals on this important matter.”
Chiarelli’s comments noted the meeting with Lever and other municipal representatives in May. He noted the mayor was asked to seek out industry advocates to better portray the regional economic benefits of a bypass.
Chiarelli wrote, “I remain prepared to meet again as I could take forward this information as part of the provincial budgeting process. In the meantime, the ministry continues to move the project forward through the completion of a number of preconstruction activities.”
He added that in respect to traffic calming measures through Morriston, ministry staff will continue to support the community group to develop a plan.
Measures being considered are gateway signing treatments, several decorative features, landscaping and the implementation of a Community Safety Zone. As a result of the most recent meeting, the ministry will be moving ahead with the installation of oversized speed limit signs and an enhanced pedestrian crossing.
Lever also noted correspondence on local Highway 401 improvements being planned from Hespeler Road in Cambridge to the Wellington County/Halton Region boundary line.
That correspondence stated a preliminary design class environmental assessment has been completed, Lever said.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said it appeared they are moving ahead quickly with this section of Highway 401.
These changes, he said, affect both the bridge and the nearby car park.
He said while the township is dealing with the MTO, there are two different groups involved – one regarding the Morriston bypass, the other for the 401 changes.
“Do we know if they are sharing thoughts and concerns and whether these two projects will be combined?”
Stokley referred to an initial meeting about the upgrade to the 401, which would join into the Morriston bypass.
“But we haven’t really heard anything since then and I’m wondering if they are moving in that direction.”
Lever said the recommended plan includes two additional auxiliary lanes on the Hanlon Expressway – one south of the 401 and the other north.
In addition, the bridge allignment at Brock Road would be shifted to better accomodate a future roundabout planned near Morriston.
Lever also noted the project was within a 10-year-horizon.
“They are obviously talking to each other since both plans are being referred to. But neither group has money to pay for the project yet – so it is not in anyone’s budget yet.”
That said, Lever was still happy to see a proposal for the extra lanes.
