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Bradford council hears more details on bypass project, which should benefit commuters

'It's going to be fantastic for all of us and an economic boom for all of the area,' says Bradford deputy-mayor
Screenshot 2021-04-21 12.29.42 PM
BWG Council hears from representatives of MTO and AECOM on the Bradford Bypass Project on Tuesday April 20.

Representatives from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and AECOM provided a status update on the Bradford bypass project during a deputation to Bradford West Gwillimbury town council Tuesday night. 

"It's something that our council has been looking forward to for a very long time," Mayor Rob Keffer said of the project. 

In the virtual meeting, MTO project manager Harinder Singh and area manager Salia Kalali were joined by AECOM consultant team Tim Sorochinsky and Sonia Rankin. 

In September 2020, the MTO began a preliminary design update study, building on the approved 2002 Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Bradford bypass, which is a 16.2-kilometre road connecting Highways 400 and 404. 

The project includes five interchanges, located at Highway 400, County Road 4 (Yonge Street), Bathurst Street, Leslie Street and Highway 404. Separated crossings are planned for 10 Sideroad, Professor Day Drive, and Artesian Industrial Parkway/CN Rail line in Bradford.

"Our government is committed to making sure our transportation system works for all people of Ontario," said Kalali, noting "road congestion will continue to increase across the Greater Golden Horseshoe."

The project is expected to help address current and future transportation needs in Simcoe County and York Region, and relieve congestion on existing local roads. It is estimated that the bypass could save motorists approximately 35 minutes per trip. 

"Transportation-related construction is vital to Ontario's economic recovery especially in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic," said Kalali, by supporting travel demands, the movement of goods, and ongoing urban development.

The preliminary design EA update study will include field investigations, impact assessment/mitigation, and adherence to environmental commitments, council was told. 

The MTO says it will consider all impacts to environmentally significant areas and will work with environmental agencies, municipalities and other concerned stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of building the highway. This includes "specific attention" to the Holland River area wetlands and the greenbelt, officials said during the presentation noted.

The Bradford bypass preliminary design and Class EA will also adhere to all new and existing provincial and federal legislation, they said, including but not limited to the Endangered Species Act (ESA, 2007), Greenbelt Plan, Heritage Act, Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act (SARA, 2002), and Lake Simcoe Protection Act.

To limit the impacts, the proposed highway will cross the Holland Marsh provincially significant wetland (PSW) at its narrowest point, where the crossing is only one kilometre across. The affected area is 10.75 hectares in size, which is about 0.375 per cent of the entire wetland area, council was told. 

The presentation also outlined the study process, which includes consultation with the public, regulatory agencies, and Indigenous communities.

A public information centre began today. The public comment period will extend until May 6, to be followed by a webinar on May 18 that will present the initial feedback from the first public information centre and the next steps of the project. 

Those next steps will include refinement of route alignment, completion of traffic analysis, identification of interchange types, ongoing field investigations, preliminary design and final reports, which are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. 

Since the study notification in September 2020, more than 230 comments have been received and 430 contacts added to the  project contact list. 

Municipal requests received so far include the addition of an interchange at 10 Sideroad in Bradford, consideration of noise barriers at Yonge Street, and access from the bypass to County Road 88 at Highway 400. 

"This is a project that has been on our books for a long time; we are excited about this. It's going to be fantastic for all of us and an economic boom for all of the area  York Region, Simcoe County and even farther north," Deputy Mayor James Leduc said after the presentation. 

"I look forward to the final design of this project," Leduc added. 

"A lot of us wondered if it would be in our lifetime," said Coun. Ron Orr.

Coun. Raj Sandhu said it was "refreshing" that the bypass will be crossing the Holland Marsh wetland at its narrowest point, "because environment is on everyone's mind."

Coun. Peter Ferragine pointed out the project has the support of marsh farmers.

"This is going to help them move product," he said.

"The benefit to our traffic cannot be underestimated," said Coun. Jonathan Scott. "The farmers want it, the residents want it."

More information about the Bradford bypass can be found at the project website, by calling 1-877-247-6036, or by emailing [email protected]


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Natasha Philpott

About the Author: Natasha Philpott

Natasha is the Editor for BradfordToday and InnisfilToday. She graduated from the Media Studies program at The University of Guelph-Humber. She lives in Bradford with her husband, two boys and two cats.
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