Lake Simcoe Coalition demands further review, assessment on Bradford bypass project

bradford bypass

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Concerned citizens, the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, and Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition applaud those elected officials in Barrie and Innisfil who โ€œtook a stand for Lake Simcoeโ€ by refusing to endorse the Bradford Bypass project.

โ€œThe arguments for saving Lake Simcoe were at the forefront, thankfully,โ€ says Claire Malcolmson, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition.

โ€œWe have been able to caution municipal elected officials of the risks of blindly having faith in the provinceโ€™s new environmental assessment process. And thatโ€™s because their process is to build now, and assess and mitigate as you go. Thatโ€™s not responsible, and thatโ€™s no way to treat the most sensitive wetland in the Lake Simcoe watershed.โ€

Advocates argue that the spirit of the provinceโ€™s Lake Simcoe Protection Plan is being ignored while some politicians โ€œpromote a highway that will add salt to the delicate aquatic ecosystem, accelerate climate change, destroy provincially significant forests and wetlands, and does a poor job of protecting species at riskโ€.

They say misinformation is being perpetuated by some local elected officials, Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney and the MTOโ€™s Bradford Bypass team.

Concerns include that โ€œearly worksโ€ like bridge supports are proposed to be built before the Environmental Assessment (EA) is complete.

Mulroney is quoted by Bradford Today saying; โ€œBy early 2022 construction will be able to start on Yonge Street. We want the Environmental Assessment to be completed, that is critical.โ€

A Ministry of Transportation letter to York Region dated March 17, 2021, says Preliminary Design/ EA Update Study would be completed by late 2022.

โ€œStarting construction before studies are complete would make the EA process just a show, and one that does not influence the decision about whether to, or where to, build a road to relieve traffic congestion in the Town of Bradford,โ€ the coalition wrote in a press release.

โ€œIf you canโ€™t get basic information and consistent facts about the highway answered, you have to ask why?โ€ asks Margaret Prophet, Executive Director of SCGC.

โ€œA government โ€œfor the peopleโ€ should want people to be informed and involved. What we have here is a process that is shrouded in inconsistencies, secrecy and obstruction and that should concern everyone.โ€

The provinceโ€™s website for the Bradford Bypass says that through the Class EA process, MTO will complete a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) which will document:

  • The transportation needs, problems and opportunities;
  • Existing environmental conditions;
  • A summary of consultation undertaken throughout the Study;
  • The generation, assessment and evaluation of alternatives within the Study Area;
  • The preferred alternative(s) / recommended plan; and,
  • A summary of potential environmental issues and mitigation measures and environmental commitments to be carried forward through future design stages.

Advocates are also concerned that the Bypass will become another 407 boondoggle. Neither the MTO nor the Minister will directly answer if this road will become a toll road built for future private investment.

โ€œResidents who plan on using the Bypass need to know whose pockets theyโ€™re going to be liningโ€, said Prophet.

โ€œWill truck traffic move out of free roads to use a toll road? Not likely. Will the public pay the price of the highwayโ€™s impacts just so private corporations can make mega-bucks? โ€œBuild now, figure out details laterโ€ isnโ€™t how a huge highway project should proceed, especially when we have peopleโ€™s water, climate and health on the line.โ€

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