Breaking News: Morriston Bypass Gets Budget Approval
Today at a press conference in Aberfoyle the Ontario government officially announce that it is moving forward with the Morriston Bypass (See map below). There were brief speeches by Dennis Lever, Mayor of Puslinch; Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation; Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph; Ted McMeekin, MPP for Anaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale and Ted Arnott, MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills. The construction is set to start in 2019 and had budget approval.
As Ted Arnott stated, “It was a long road to get this road” and most in the audience were visibly excited at the announcement.
Click on the map below to download it in PDF format if you wish to examine it closer and scroll down to see the official Wellington County Press Release.
Here is the official press release from Wellington County (download it here):
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCES HIGHWAY 6 MORRISTON BY-PASS IN CAPITAL PLAN
PUSLINCH- The Honourable Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, held a press conference this
afternoon to announce that the Government of Ontario has included the Highway 6 Morriston By-pass in
its 5 Year Capital Plan for highway construction.
“The Township of Puslinch is very pleased with today’s announcement and the commitment to move this
project forward,” said Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever. “The Highway 6 Morriston By-pass project has been in
the works for over 30 years. The traffic bottleneck puts the safety of our residents at great risk. Highway 6 is
a key economic corridor connecting the 401 to the Hamilton/Niagara region, as well as to the U.S. border.”
“The County of Wellington is pleased that the Government of Ontario has decided to invest in the Highway
6 Morriston By-pass,” commented Warden George Bridge. “This investment will have a very positive
economic impact on all of Wellington County and the region.”
There has been long widespread support for the Highway 6 Morriston By-pass. Wellington-Halton Hills
MPP Ted Arnott has championed the cause for many years. In 2014, Mr. Arnott tabled a Private Member’s
Resolution calling attention to the need for the Highway 6 Morriston By-pass.
The County of Wellington, the City of Guelph, and the City of Hamilton have all supported the Highway 6
Morriston By-pass. In 2013, the Morriston Coalition was formed by Mayor Lever, Jana Burns, the Director
of Economic Development for the County and Rory McAlpine, Senior Vice President, Government and
Industry Relations with Maple Leaf Foods. Other members include: the Guelph and Hamilton Chambers of
Commerce, Tim Hortons, , Nestlé Waters, Canada Bread, and Cargill.
“On behalf of the Township of Puslinch, I would like to personally thank Mr. Ted Arnott, the County of
Wellington Economic Development Department and the members of the Morriston Coalition for their
tireless efforts,” said Lever. “The Morriston Highway 6 By-pass project would not have been possible without the enormous collaboration of many parties.”
For more information, please contact:
Mayor Dennis Lever
226.971.2067
[email protected]
And you actually believe this bunch of Liars ?
How can you say ” It is in the budget ” , when you don’t even know the cost of it ?
Nobody will be driving on this highway for at least 10 years.
This is just a ploy to take the heat off for now.
I think they are pretty serious about this. It was repeated more than once that there was ‘budget approval’ and construction was set to begin in 2019. The fact that they put an actual date on it makes it seem to me like they are moving ahead.
Only 2 weeks ago our Mayor stated there was ” No Commitment ” ( his words ).
Today we have this announcement ? What is going on here ?
I will hold off on my celebration until the first day I drive on this road.
File this in the category “I’ll Believe it When I See it”.
In spite of the reported “excitement” by those attending the press conference today, I suspect the enthusiasm is exactly what the government hoped to achieve and thereby ease the pressure from local interest groups.
If this project indeed has a life, wouldn’t the Provincial Government be actively lobbying the Federal Government for infrastructure funding announced in their recent budget? If this project doesn’t pass the “sniff test” at this time, what makes anyone think it will remain a priority three years hence? Call me cynical, but after the next provincial election in 2018, all bets are off.
I will totally believe it when I see it!
This is not the first time we have seen this project put “in the budget”, only to see it disappear with a new government!
With any luck ( and common sense at all ), we will be rid of this Liberal government in 2018.
Then the whole process will start all over again.
Put the Champagne on ice !
Well looks like the wording has changed in one day.
When you read Ted Arnott’s article about this project he uses the words ” Could ” and ” As early as “.
He of all people should be weary of any statements a Liberal Government makes about anything.
One billion wasted on E-Health, one billion wasted on cancelling Powerplants would have surely have built more than one highway !!