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OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, October 8, 2009 · 10 Speers to be widened over several years By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Speers Road will be getting a complete makeover in the next few years to help ease the congestion that typically occurs there during weekday rush hours. Town Council voted Monday to approve a reconstruction plan that will take place on the section of Speers Road, which runs from Bronte Road to Kerr Street and which will involve the widening of Speers Road to five lanes. When complete, the road will feature four through lanes and one centre turn lane plus auxiliary turn lanes at major intersections and dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks along both sides of the corridor. The roadway will also be reconstructed to address existing damage and the Fourteen Mile Creek and McCraney Creek bridges will be widened to accommodate the road widening and sidewalks. The project is expected to cost around $32 million and will be carried out in phases. The first phase will see the area of Speers Road BURLINGTON'S NEW FULL SERVICE BEAD STORE GRAND OPENING WEEK October 7 , 8 , 9 and 10 th th th th JOIN US FOR OUR www.bead-dazzled.ca Beads, Beads, Beads! Gemstone Beads and Strands CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements Chains, Findings and more Classes for all skill levels HOURS: Wednesday & Thursday 11am-6pm · Friday 11am-8pm · Saturday 10am-4pm 4155 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON · 905.631.0022 between Bronte Road and Procor (1 km west of Third Line) undergo an initial reconstruction and widening to three lanes in 2010. The reconstruction and widening to five lanes will hit the Third Line to Fourth Line area in 2013, the Fourth Line to Dorval Drive area in 2015 and the Dorval Drive to Kerr Street area in 2016. The date when the Bronte Road to Third Line area will undergo additional reconstruction and widening to five lanes has yet to be finalized. Town staff note that traffic disruption during these construction periods will be kept to a minimum with at least one lane in each direction kept open at all times. In a report submitted to council, the Director of the Department of Engineering and Construction Darnell Lambert stated the number of existing trees within the Speers Road corridor are minimal, however, the "A point will need to come soon where we rethink the process of endless road expansion in this area." Blake Poland Oakville GreenTrans reconstruction plan does call for the relocation and removal of some trees to accommodate the road widening. To compensate for this Lambert noted the improvement plan would see the creation of a new enhanced boulevard area suitable for roadside trees. With Speers Road serving as a major arterial roadway and industrial hub for the Town of Oakville there is no shortage of interest regarding what will become of it. During a Community Services Committee meeting last week the President of Bot Construction Roy Bot expressed concerns about the proposed bike lanes. He noted that because Speers Road was so heavily travelled, particularly by transport trucks, bike lanes might not be the best idea. He also pointed out that if new trees are planted along the roadway, measures should be taken to ensure they do not block the view of transport truck drivers turning from industrial parking lots onto Speers Road. Blake Poland of Oakville GreenTrans, who spoke during the same meeting, noted he was happy about the allocation of road space for cyclists, but also voiced concerns about the overall concept of road expansion, which he fears will only lead to more traffic in the area. "That is not a sustainable option," he said. "A point will need to come soon where we rethink the process of endless road expansion in this area."