Talked about for the past four decades, a new Highway 7 connecting Kitchener and Guelph could become a reality in 2015, the timeframe for construction recently confirmed by the province.
The news was welcomed with open arms by the region’s business community, said Ian McLean, president and CEO Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, who thinks it’s about time for a move forward.
“We’re very pleased. It’s significant progress … it’s moved into the 10-year capital budget for the Ministry of Transportation. In fact, it’s in the front three years, which means, from a budgeting perspective it’s more likely to happen than not,” he said.
Ontario approved the highway in 2007 and now the provincial government has moved the highway into its five-year construction plan that was released last month.
The Cambridge, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo chambers have been advocating the change for a number of years through the provincial Chamber, and McLean finds the move forward to be refreshing after decades of stagnation.
Another encouraging note, he said, is the unanimous call for action on this project from Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic parties during the Kitchener-Waterloo byelection in September.
The new route would take some pressure off of Ontario Highway 401, and would increase local trade between the tri-cities and the city of Guelph, McLean said.
“Locally I think it will have some positive effects, more broadly across the province I think it does connect the GTA with southwestern Ontario.”
The current two-lane Highway 7 is one of the busiest of its kind in Ontario and the new project is expected to significantly ease drivers’ commutes.
According to the Ministry of Transportation’s West Region representative Liane Fisher, the new highway will do what the existing route cannot: “Meet the requirements of long-term growth in the Region of Waterloo.”
So far, 17 of the 134 properties needed for the project have been purchased.
“It’s the most important step right now,” Fisher said.
The initial design for a new four-lane divided highway is expected to be complete in early 2013, according to the ministry, which will then release an initial design report for public comment.
Though pleased with the forward movement, McLean isn’t counting his chickens just yet.
“I’m a little hesitant to pop the champagne corks until we see a shovel in the ground,” he said.
