MOOSE CREEK – After years of public and political lobbying to improve Highway 138, MPP Nolan Quinn says work will be moving ahead.
Quinn shared the news this morning (June 21) during a town hall at the Moose Creek Community Center.
Around 120 people were there along with politicians from all levels of government, police and a Ministry of Transportation official to come up with solutions.
“I’m very proud to be able to state and it’s unfortunate that we’ve had more tragedies since then, but the Stantec report…will be moving forward. So the whole report including passing lanes…left hand turning lanes, slip lanes, lines of sight as well,” Nolan said.
The Stantec report from 2017 made a number of recommendations to improve the highway which links two 400-series highways – Highway 401 and Highway 417. The only recommendations put in place since that time have been building two commuter lots, a roundabout at Headline Road (currently under construction) and paving.
Quinn acknowledged there’s been lots of growth in area since the report and the highway “wasn’t built for the amount of traffic that we currently see on that highway now.”
MTO Senior Project Manager Cory Mazzeo said a request for proposals (RFP) will go out this summer to hire a consultant to undertake the detailed design of the highway based on the Stantec report with construction expected in May 2028.
Since it’s been eight years since the study, Mazzeo said all parts of the highway would be reviewed for possible improvements.
While members of the public wanted to see immediate improvements, such as signage, more marked police cruisers or a flashing amber light at some intersections, Mazzeo said the environmental assessment, detailed design, utility relocation and expropriating land for the build will take considerable time.
The improvements from the Stantec report include:
- A two kilometer northbound passing lane from 500 meters north of Myers Round/McPhail Road to 200 meters north of Cameron Road
- A 1.7 kilometer southbound passing lane from 200 meters south of County Road 43 to 200 meters south of McDonald Road
- Intersection improvements at seven locations with either widening or turning lanes: Brookdale Avenue and Cornwall Center Road, Valade Road/Island Road, Dundas Street/County Road 18, Wheeler Road, Myers Road/McPhail Road and Guindon Road.
- Permanent snow fencing near the train tracks in the northern section of Highway 138
MPP Quinn noted traffic has changed since the report and the MTO will add left hand turning lanes at McNeil Road and Dyer Road.
“I’m very much reassured knowing that there’s the addition of Dyer Road, understanding there is a lot of traffic that turn on to both, especially Maxville during the Highland Games weekend,” Quinn said.
It’s the intersection where North Stormont small business owner Amanda Maloney died March 29.
Moderator Alan Kruszel posed sent-in questions to the panel before roughly a dozen questions were taken from those in attendance.
The town hall was organized by Cara Sabourin and Amanda Brownrigg.