Consultants commit to “consider” northern routing

News

Posted By Jon Thompson

Posted 1 month ago

More than 250 people crowded into and around the Clearwater Bay Fire Hall on July 24 for a public information session on the twinning of the Trans-Canada, a move they fear could expand the national highway right-of-way to the edge of Lake of the Woods.

McCormick Rankin Corporation project manager Neil Ahmed said his company has received over 200 letters expressing concern over a proposed routing that would move the highway to the south of the current corridor and promised the crowd he would honour their concerns and consider an option for NW1, the current favoured route for the section of the twinned highway in the Clearwater Bay area.

"I think we expected this because we have been having correspondence with the cottagers association. We've received a lot of email and other mail," Ahmed said of the turnout, all but one person speaking in favour of a northern route rather than the current preferred option of a southern route.

"We had a good sense of a lot of people coming out today."

Sandy Nairn is the environmental planner for the project. Although he acknowledged the Ministry of Transportation is not subject to a 1990 MNR Restricted Development Order to protect trout habitat from Clearwater Bay to Echo Bay — one of nine in the province— he said his team intends to "respect the intent of the order."

"It's important to look at all alternatives when it comes to potential environmental impacts," he said, expressing concern over wetland impact on the proposed northern route.

"I think the quality of the water in this area is paramount. It's the economic engine for the area," said seasonal resident Terry Wright who spoke for KeepHwy17North, a lobby group that has sprung up to address the highway encroaching on the lake.

"The initiative of the lobby group is supported by recognition of the Lake of the Woods Property Owners' Association, the Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Association (a group of 550 cottage associations), and by the town of Kenora by a unanimous resolution... Everybody is consistent in their resolve to keep the construction to the other side of the Anderson Roadway."

The environmental impact will examine not only effects of runoff and pollution on the lake and feeding rivers or wetlands, but will also employ an acoustic model to monitor potential noise pollution for those living on the edge of the lake.

Fifty-year lake resident, Barb McManus expressed concern over the scope of that audio audit, convincing Nairn to consider expanding his impact analysis.

"That noise goes out to the lake," she said. "It's the islands, the picnic areas, the rest of the lake. That's where noise pollution is happening and they're not even considering that. The highway is just roaring through and shortening the distance to the lake by bringing it farther south will really increase the noise."

Year-round Joyce Berry encouraged the public not to see the mobilization as a "Not In My Backyard" movement, but to understand those who use and love the lake have a natural interest in defending it.

"This is a gift. This body of water is a gift and I consider myself blessed every day when I look out over it and when I use it. If this was just a backyard issue, we wouldn't garner the support we have. It's because the people here love this lake and want to support it."

The consultants hope to deliver a "preferred route" at a public information session in the fall but insisted on due diligence rather than a formal time line as the top priority.

While no funding has been committed for actual construction of the 25 km section of new roadway between Rush Bay and Kenora, it is part of an overall plan to twin the 40 kms of Highway 17 between the Manitoba border and the city.

Ottawa and Queen's Park announced $100 million in funding for the first 15 km of the project last year. Final approvals are pending for that work with route clearing expected to start this fall.