East Gwillimbury $50M east-west road closer to reality

yorkregion.com
Sept. 11, 2014
By Simon Martin

The most expensive road project East Gwillimbury has ever undertaken is getting closer to a reality.

With an estimated cost of $50 million, the east-west municipal road is proposed to run between an extension of Harry Walker Parkway and Bathurst Street.

It’s intended to help pave the way for new development in Sharon and alleviate traffic on Green Lane.

Council heard an update this week on the ongoing environmental study for the project, which is scheduled to be ready for public comment next month.

The four-lane road’s preferred route would run south of the Sharon Burying Ground and reach Bathurst south of Morning Sideroad.

The proposed route intersects Yonge Street, the 2nd Concession, Leslie Street and a north/south road servicing new developments in Sharon. A five-span bridge will also be required to run over the East Holland River, GO Transit tracks and the Nokiidaa Trail.

The town’s consultants estimate the cost of the crossing to be about $17 million.

“This is the largest road project the Town of East Gwillimbury has ever done,” Mayor Virginia Hackson said.

“It’s a sign of where we are going and what kind of community we are going to have.”

According to the report, the current environmental assessment doesn’t support extending the proposed east-west municipal road over Hwy. 404 to Woodbine Avenue.

The new road’s goal is to provide access to future development along Green Lane West and most of the traffic is expected to be local. Green Lane will still carry the majority of through traffic, the report said.

Once the environmental study report is filed, there will be a 30-day period to allow the public to comment.