Essex has heard back from the Ministry of Transportation about the delay expanding Hwy.3, but it doesn't like what it's hearing.
A letter, dated June 29, says the province is committed to widening the highway to two lanes each way beyond the Arner Townline in its 2015-2019 Southern Highways Program, but will only consider it along with other provincial priorities. In other words: the ministry says it's going to do it, but not right now.
"I think all the public is tired of letters," Councillor Larry Snively fired back during Monday's council meeting. "All they're waiting for is more deaths on this road."
He accuses the province of turning it's back on Essex County.
"The Toronto area, London area, they're getting all the money. From London down, we don't get a penny. We haven't even gotten infrastructure money down here. They've cut us right off."
Councillors heard from Director of Infrastructure and Development, Chris Nepsy that the province is waiting for a connection to Hwy. 3 at Hanlan St. He says he's been back and forth with the ministry but as of last week, they had an agreement.
Minister Steven Del Duca is expected at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in Windsor next month, and Councillor Sherry Bondy is hopeful she can meet with him there to talk about the delay, but Councillor Randy Voakes doesn't think that's good enough. He wants a public meeting in council chambers.
"[Premier Kathleen] Wynne doesn't care about [Hwy.3] bypass right now," he says. "Nobody cares. They've proven it over and over again because we're just one small municipality and every day they have their complaints from municipalities all across Ontario about the safety of the roads."
Last week, Essex MPP Taras Natyshak expressed his frustration with delays in widening the highway after it was left off a list of $2.8-billion in road projects in southwestern Ontario.
"I'm at my witts end. It boggles the mind and it's now into the realm of the absurd that they [the provincial government] wouldn't finish this highway," Natyshak told BlackburnNews.com.
