STUDY ON FOUR-LANING HIGHWAY 11/17
MTO has re-opened a study on 4-laning Highway 11/17 through Conmee Township. In December of 2009, a public meeting was held and MTO presented 10 possible routes, with two being identified as “preferred”. One route was suggested to MTO by Council in 1979. All routes will impact the Township to a greater or lesser degree. MTO has stated that at this time there are no current plans for construction, and no funding has been allocated. We are told that there is usually a 10 to 20 year gap before construction actually begins. However, the MTO intends to protect their corridor by the spring of 2011. This protection is not expropriation. Property owners within the protected corridor will require MTO permission to further develop their property. MTO protects a wider route than will ultimately be used when construction starts, because until actual land surveys are competed, the foot by foot path of the road is unknown and may have to go around obstacles.
Council has appointed a volunteer Committee to research this issue. The Committee will present their findings to Council. Although the Township asked MTO to provide us with maps that had one route per map, they declined to do so. Therefore the Committee will take on the task of outlining each route on an individual map, so that Council can determine the impact to individual landowners within a route, as well as the financial impact of each route to the Township as a whole. There are many other issues involved with this new highway. They include the fact that the highway will have limited access. This may mean longer travel times to access the highway, or to travel from one place to the other within the Township. This would also increase traffic on other roads, and could make emergency response times longer. Other issues will arise over the long-term. MTO has stated that another public meeting will be held this June. At that time they will present the results of their study. Watch the newsletter and website for the date and time. Maps showing the 10 routes are available for viewing at the Municipal Office, 19 Holland Road West.