Council supports Fielding Rd. for bypass interchange

BY TRACEY DUGUAY

Civic engagement ruled the day when it came time for city council to decide on what location it would recommend to the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for a new bypass interchange.

As part of the MTO’s Southwest Bypass four-laning project, which will stretch from Long Lake Rd. to Municipal Road 55, two possible sites for a new interchange were selected: Southview Dr. or Fielding Rd.

In July, after being asked by the MTO for its opinion, council referred the matter to staff for further analysis, as well as to hold a neighbourhood meeting.

In the fall, Ward 1 Councillor Joe Cimino and Ward 2 Councillor Jacques Barbeau each held meetings in their respective wards, since these were the areas affected by the proposed interchange.

At both meetings, each of which drew around 150 people, the majority in attendance preferred the Fielding Rd. option.

“On behalf of my citizens, I don’t want the interchange located at the end of Southview Dr.,” Cimino told council Wednesday night.

The residents in this area were concerned about the increase in traffic, especially heavy trucks, if the interchange was built there.

Barbeau was just as vocal in his support for Fielding Rd. as the logical choice. Aside from the fact Fielding Rd. is in an industrial area and primed for business growth, the interchange would also remedy the high rate of traffic accidents there.

“We can’t afford to see anyone else die at that intersection,” he said.

Direct access from the bypass would be eliminated for whatever road wasn’t selected for the interchange; however, side roads would continue to link the area.

Aside from many residents in their ward, the two councillors also had the support of council when it came to selecting  Fielding Rd.

Ward 5 Councillor Ron Dupuis said, “There’s no doubt in my mind the interchange has to be there. You can’t have it in a residential area.”

The final decision on the bypass interchange rests in the hands of the MTO, which will hold another public meeting of its own in the spring.

Full project plans, notices of upcoming public meetings and other information can be found at www.sudburyswbypass.ca.