Councillor Stephen Blais today kept another campaign promise today by securing City Hall’s support to partner with the Ontario government to conduct an environmental assessment (EA) on widening HWY 174.

“For too long, the road network in the East End had been left to deteriorate while suburban development continued,” says Blais. ”This idling approach by previous City Councils forced East End commuters to waste valuable time in traffic rather than have more time at home with their families.”

Councillor Blais’ motion would initiate an EA to expand HWY 174 to six lanes between “The Split” and Trim Road. The EA would also look to expand HWY 174 from two to four lanes between Trim Road and the city’s border with Rockland (United Counties of Prescott-Russell). Additionally, the EA would look at the possibility of an interchange at Trim Road and HWY 174.

The EA will be funded with $5 million from the provincial government. Once the EA is approved by City Council the projects would be included in the 2013 Transportation Master Plan.

Presently, 60 per cent of Orléans and Cumberland commuters who work downtown use OC Transpo. Yet the average speed, on this 100 KM/h highway, during morning rush hour is 40 KM/h.

“The 174 is a fundamental transportation link and important to future growth in the East End,” adds Blais. “Despite Orléans and Cumberland residents embracing public transit like no other community, commute times are only getting longer. The completion of HWY 174 will significantly reduce commute times for our residents.”

“I am pleased that the City of Ottawa’s Transportation Committee has decided to partner with our government to conduct the much needed HWY 174 environmental assessment,” says Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. “I look forward to working with the City of Ottawa and the United Counties of Prescott-Russell to improve the quality of life of our residents by reducing their commute times and making this road safer.”