A noise exemption in Puslinch along Highway 401 could mean for a few noisy nights near Morriston.
Ministry of Transportation environmental planner Adele Mochrie wrote to council last month seeking a noise bylaw exemption to allow nighttime construction near the 401.
Mochrie said MTO is finalizing the detail design of the speed change lane extension of Highway 401 at Brock Road. The change would extend the speed change lane from the eastbound 401 exiting at Brock Road and Highway 6 in Morriston.
“The nature of the night works include milling and paving operations for a duration of four weekday nights from 9pm to 5am.”
The motion at council was to allow the work between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, 2012.
Mayor Dennis Lever asked if a formal resolution is required.
Deputy-clerk Heather Krouskie explained “normally we just get council’s approval and then let [the applicant]know.”
Councillor Susan Fielding said while the MTO indicated the work would be only for four days, it asked for a six week period. She understood the need for a time frame, “but I wondered that in the wording, if it could stress it was for a four-day period.”
She noted in the past in Morriston, the MTO had been given a blanket exemption and work ended up taking much longer and was disturbing to the residents.
Fielding did not anticipate that happening in this case since it would be done farther away from residents. She asked for the clarification “just to be on the safe side.”
Lever agreed, especially since the work is to happen over four evenings.
Fielding said, “If it is anything like the previous operation, it is very noisy.”
At the same time, Lever was pleased to hear of the plan to extend the deceleration lane from the 401.
“There were certainly concerns in the summertime when traffic was backed up.”
