PUSLINCH – As the clock continues to tick on a Morriston bypass, council is looking for ways to show the province how necessary the project is to the township and surrounding areas.
Approving the use of a drone to capture traffic footage of the proposed Morriston bypass area during a Puslinch council meeting Tuesday afternoon, members of Puslinch council said they felt like their delegation on the project during the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference last month was heard and they're hopeful illustrating the area's traffic issues will further enforce their point.
Calling the delegation positive, interim CAO Courtenay Hoytfox said the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) confirmed the bypass project is still moving forward and will prioritize the relocation of hydro lines as a first step which "is huge."
This follows the township's request for the provincial government and the MTO to "return to an evidence-based infrastructure funding decision-making model for major highway projects" and to seriously consider the construction of the Morriston bypass "proceed as initially planned."
Anticipated to cost between $500 million and $1 billion, the bypass project would see a new, four-lane Hwy. 6 created west of the existing alignment that goes from Maddaugh Road, on the border of Puslinch and Hamilton, to Hwy. 401.
"With anticipated population growth in the southwest and Greater Golden Horseshoe, traffic volume on Highway 6 will inevitably increase, mixing large trucks and cars," said staff in a report on the delegation. "A safe and reliable transportation system connecting people, products, and large centers with small rural communities is key to supporting growth in the southwest."
The township also asked the MTO to provide financial support for aspects of their Downtown Revitalization Project "given there is no timeline associated with the bypass project."
While unable to commit to any timelines for the bypass, the MTO confirmed they would consider the township's beautification project and potentially look at funding or cost-sharing some of the identified projects once the preliminary study is completed.
Proposed initiatives in the beautification project include crosswalks in downtown Aberfoyle and Morriston, a traffic light at Concession Road 1, pedestrian lighting, pacemaking and signage, benches, community murals and seasonal community planters.
The township was recently approved for the maximum available grant funding of $49,500 from the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program for revitalizing downtown Aberfoyle and Morriston.
MTO staff also confirmed that a traffic count study is underway to determine the need for a street light and crosswalk.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
