By Laura Cudworth, Stratford Beacon Herald
The Ministry of Transportation will host three public meetings to get input about a north bypass route around Shakespeare.
The proposed route is part of the "preliminary design alternative" for the Hwy. 7/8 expansion.
The route chosen by the ministry last year follows Hwy. 7/8 until about 2.5 km east of Shakespeare. At that point it drops south and follows the train tracks and eventually veers further south through a bush lot and farmland. It then runs along a municipal drain before it connects with Line 33 (known as Pork Road).
The north bypass around Shakespeare is a new alternative. The highway would follow Hwy. 7/8 and then head north just west of Road 106 but stay south of Vivian Line. It would dip down and reconnect with Hwy. 7/8 east of Road 108. In this proposed design a segment of Road 110 is used as a link between the existing highway to Lorne Ave.
The ministry had intended to host PIC meetings in January regarding the design phase of the highway expansion. However, more consultations were held with the agricultural community to come up with alternatives to "soften potential impacts."
The chosen route was expected to eat up about 500 acres of farmland.
Producers have expressed safety concerns as they could potentially have to negotiate cumbersome equipment on or across four lanes of fast-moving traffic. The latest round of consultations with farmers touched on safety issues.
The Agriculture Business Community (ABC) of Perth East, Perth South and Wilmot West has not yet seen the proposed north bypass, said spokesperson Sharon Weitzel.
These meetings will be the first seeking input on the north bypass.
The first public meeting will be on July 25 from 5-9 p.m. at Shakespeare and District Optimist Hall. The second meeting will be held in Stratford at the Rotary Complex Hall B from 5-9 p.m. and the third will be Aug. 15 at the Wilmot Recreation Complex from 5-9 p.m. The same information will be presented at each meeting with brief presentations at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
laura.cudworth@sunmedia.ca
