MTO Opts for the Path of Least Resistance

Editorial

By JOHN KASTNER -Stratford Beacon Herald

When it to comes to the greatest dilemmas perhaps there are just no right answers.
And so it is with the expansion of Hwy. 7/8 from Stratford to New Hamburg.
The notion or driving four or five lanes through the heart of the hamlet of Shakespeare is beyond absurd but for a while, that was the preferred path.

Sanity has prevailed and according to details released Monday night the preferred path now swings just south of Shakespeare and heads into the south end of Stratford along Pork St.
Saving Shakespeare was the motivation for the citizens' groups, protests, signs and yellow ribbons, so it would appear the prime objective has been reached.

But others will argue that ripping up hundreds, possibly thousands of acres of some of the best farmland in the world is not much better. Regardless, the new path will certainly be viewed as the lesser of two evils by most -- unless of course you are one of the farmers who now sees the prospect of having his farm cut in half by a freeway.

For those farmers it now becomes hard to plan, plant, build or refinance when the expansion of the highway hangs over their collective heads like the sword of Damocles. But if the highway has to expand, and that seems to be a conclusion that most have resigned themselves to, then it has to go somewhere.

Logic would dictate that it needs to take a route that will have the least amount of negative impact. To that end, Shakespeare was off the table and enter the rural route.

The other fly in the ointment is the presence of three significant historical sites. The Fryfogel Inn of course along with the Lingelbach church and cemetery.

It has been stated many times that it may be years, possibly decades before the province tackles this project in earnest. On the other hand, the process has to start somewhere and defining a path is the obvious first step. Now that we move closer to that stage we can draw two conclusions from this elongated process.

On one hand, it's hard to believe, almost disconcerting, that anyone ever considered going through Shakespeare as a remotely viable option. Conversely, it's somewhat comforting to see that the decision makers could be swayed not only by protests and opposition, but by some common sense as well.

The affected farming community will be upset by the new path, and rightfully so, but there's no question, the new route beats the alternative.
Article ID# 2936887