Barrier advocates support plan, but want quicker action
CHATHAM While pleased that concrete median barriers are part of the overall upgrades planned for Highway 401, advocates say they’re still concerned with the anticipated 2021 start date.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is undertaking a multiyear construction project to widen and improve approximately 118 km of the highway from Tilbury to London.
Stantec Consulting Ltd. was retained by the ministry to complete the preliminary design, initiate detail design, and class environmental assessment study.
This process will consider pavement and bridge improvements, corridor management, safety, traffic, environmental impacts, drainage and maintenance operations.
According to the project website, construction is expected to begin in 2021 subject to funding and approvals. Specific timing for the various components of construction will be confirmed as the study progresses.
Alysson Storey, founder of the grassroots group Build the Barrier, said the plan contains more specifics, but still believes it should be accelerated. She hopes the project isn’t punted to the next government.
“Overall, there’s a lot more detail, which we’re always appreciative of,” she said. “But the biggest red flag is at the end, which states pending funding and approval.
“There’s no question it needs to get done now. I think we’ve made the argument, as have many others.”
Storey became involved after family friend Sarah Payne and daughter Freya, of London, were killed in a 2017 median crossover collision.
While she said she understands there is a process to be followed, she suggested Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney has the ability to expedite matters.
The contracted study will also consider the overall construction sequence for the proposed improvements.
Storey said she anticipates her group will hold a public town hall, similar to one held two years ago, once more is known about the project.
Kathleen Reed — another advocate for the barriers, whose fiance Gary Lent was killed in a crossover crash in 2017 — said she was “super-excited” to see that concrete barriers were included.
However, she admitted that she’s remaining cautiously optimistic.
“I won’t believe it until I see it start going up,” she said.
Noting that “everything takes time,” MPP Rick Nicholls (PC— Chatham-kent-leamington) said the cable median barriers installed in certain sections in the meantime are a least something to improve safety.
“That’s better than nothing, at this point,” he said.
Nicholls pledged that the upgrades will be completed.
“They can rest assured that I will be all over this, ensuring that construction is moving forward,” he said. “There’s a lot of moving parts.”