4 lane Kitchener-Guelph link 32 years in the making
Envisioned in 1980s, new completion date is 2021
If all goes as planned a new four lane highway connecting Kitchener and Guelph could be completed by 2021... which is about 32 years since the plan was first introduced.
The proposed highway which would essentially connect highway 85 in Kitchener to Highway 6 North in Guelph, was first discussed in the late 1980s. Since then there have been environmental assessments, public consultations, additional consultations with First Nations and a final approval to build the highway in 2007.
But that didn't happen.
Work actually got underway in 2015 with the widening of highway 85 near the Guelph Street overpass in Kitchener. That would set up a new route for commuters who won't be able to travel over the Victoria Street bridge over highway 85 as it's being replaced with a new bridge and work is being done to improve the interchange. That work should be completed by 2019.
Art Sinclair, the Vice-President of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce said the delay is a disappointment not just for the business community but all of Waterloo Region.
"This is a key infrastructure project for connecting two major growth centres in the province of Ontario, both economically and population wise," said Sinclair. "Guelph and Waterloo Region are both growing, we have similar economies, we have a very strong post secondary presence in both cities. There's really a lot of potential here."
Sinclair estimates between 20,000 to 25,000 people travel between both cities on a daily basis.
A report by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation entitled Southern Highways Program 2017-2021 suggests in the next year the government will be spending $2.5 B on repairing and building highways. The report says the work will create over 13,000 jobs.
It also adds the list is subject to change based on a number of issues including funding and construction requirements.