$35 MILLION: Roundabouts, new municipal works yard being planned

$35 MILLION: Roundabouts, new municipal works yard being planned
Cornwall City Hall

CORNWALL, Ontario – The city is looking at rebuilding its municipal work yard and adding roundabouts to busy Cornwall intersections – which could cost upwards of $35 million.

City hall is seeking feedback from residents on its plan to create roundabouts – a controversial subject in places like South Stormont – at Sydney Street and McConnell Avenue, while also extending Lemay Street to McConnell Avenue.

The design would also include sidewalks and bike lanes for the benefit of pedestrians and cyclists and is estimated to cost some $3.5 million.

But that’s nothing compared to a plan to demolish and rebuild the municipal works yard on Ontario Street. The plan tops out at $32 million and would take place over several years.

“Clearly, these are long-term projects with significant budget implications that will shape this part of the community for years to come,” said city infrastructure planning manager Steve Wintle. “We are preparing to finalize the recommended plan and our focus at this point is to garner feedback from the public.

“In addition to residents in the area, there are thousands of vehicles that travel through these parts of the city each and every day. We are asking residents to take a few minutes to review the information and share their thoughts with us. Once the study is complete there will be a final review period, but we would like to receive comments at this stage to ensure the plan best meets community needs.”

Ontario Street would be closed to traffic at Twelfth Street and Lemay Street to create the new municipal works complex.

 

Wintle said the roudabouts, which resulted in a backlash in some circles when they were announced in South Stormont, will help with traffic headaches.

“The addition of traffic roundabouts is seen as the most viable option for the flow of both local and through traffic in the area,” he said.

There is no timeline yet for the projects.

Residents can visit the City website (www.Cornwall.ca) to see the Recommended Plan and to review additional material on the projects and offer their comments. The public input period will run until Dec. 11. Comment sheets can also be obtained and filled out in person at the municipal works office on Ontario Street.

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