PuLûïc consuited ont future of Highway 25 at meeting By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion Witbn a few years. local resi- dents could sec Regional Road 25 I rom Derry Road iii Hwy. 407 doit bic in size. Taktng the approximate 9-km siretch of bîghway from iwo lanes t0 four was the 'prcferred alterna- tive' put forward by planners ai a public information session Thursday. Rcgional staff and consultants wcre on bandi In discuss the class etivironmental ascssment proces taking place on the main ariery running between Milton and Oakville. .We're just bastcally in the plan- ning stages rtght now." said Halton Project Manager Nick Zervos. As part of that planning, several alternatives were identîfted regard- tng the Regtonal Road 25 projeci, includtng do nothtng, widen the road from Iwo to four fanes, make traffie control improvements. such as puîîing in ltghts at the Lower Base Ltne tntersection, improve uîther surrounding ritads, upgrade the public transit service or increase thc number tiI car-pooling facilt ieucs. Oui of ihese, rîîad widening was selecied by ihe Region as the best way iii go ai an esîimated cost of $25 million. But, a smalt sarvey conducted cachier this ycar ai a publtc infor- mation centre showeef resîdents were most in f avour of împroving other roads around Regional Rd. 25, while road widening was ranked fourth on the list of six alternatives. A staff report distributed at last week's meeting acknowledged res- idents want to sec other road upgrades and more publie transit and said the Region is pursuing these solutions as part of the other alternatives. -Howcvcr, the analysts complet- cd by the study teamn shows that even wiîh these inititattves, widen- ing and traffie control improve- ments will be required," the report said. It was dectded creattng a four lane rural-style road with a median, centered on the existing alîgniment. is the preferred destgn for the proj- cci. As part of the road work. the bridge crossing the Sîxteen Mile Creek will also be widened. "There's some rehabilitation required, bai it's in relatively good condition." Mr. Zervos said tof the bridge. Oui of the publie commenis receivcd on the road widening to date, Mr. Zervos said he's heard some concerns about speeding. while stakeholders have askcd if there's a way to speed up the work. Detailed design of the project is expected to start nexi yeae, with construction tentattvely set 10, start tn 2008. For more information on the Regional Road 25 projeet. visit www.region.halton.on.ca/ppw/pla nningroads. Melante Hennessev tait be rai/ted at tnitennetsev@rtiilton- tatîadianchanipion.coîn. The Canadian Chiampion, Tuuaday Decumbur 7, 2004-7 ANWAR THE DEAL MAKER Invites you toi corne and check out MiIton's Finest Pre-Owned Vehicles Buy with confidence! (7 Day Free Exchanget) AUl vehicies are fully reconditioned S and E-tested by Factory Tralned Technlclans. Bonus! Get FIEE'm. W.ftIme 011 Chanes& Lights coming sooner than later Within the next couple weeks, local restdents should sec tempo- raty traffie ligbts installed at the dangerous corner of Derry Road and Sauta Maria Boulevard/Commercial Street. Council approved $500,10 from capttal reserves November 22 for the ltghts, wich will lbc installed by the Town of Oakville and tts contracter. Plans to pttt ta permianetnt traf ic ltghts ai the intersectton werc called off by coanicil ta the sanîimer ater learuîng the stgnais will bc patd for and installed by the Regtuîn nevi year as part of the Derry Road widcnîng project. But a report from Engineering Services Direetor Paul Cripps said, "The Town bas rcceived numeroas complaints from residents regard- tng Ibis tntersection and they have tndicated ihcy are concerned for ibeir safcty when travelling througb tbts area." Ward 2 Coanctîlor Mark Curtis said be heard a lot of those corn- plaints from bts constituents and ai bts son's hockey games ai the Milton Sports Centre. The most recent incident was November 2h jusi after 6 p.m., wben a motorcycle and a car wcre involved ta a collision. The motor- cyclîsi was ireated ai the bospital for non-ltfc threatenîng injuries. Mr. Curtis broaght somte of these complaints to Town staff 's atten- tion. "l'm really excited that we're going tu put tn a temporaey meas- are,- he satd. "I think it's going to save lives." He reiterated that be was just one of the tearu involved tn getting the ligbts put in and aIl of counicîl was conccrued with tt. Mr. Crtpps' report noied ail equipruent will be on boan from the Town of Oakville Io redace cosis. "I tbink ihts is great news. l'mn really happy to sec ibis tonigbt," Ward 3 Counctîlor Jan Mowbray satd at the meeting. k'LINTE IS NO i 1 ' R[I E 1 DL ] "Depeid on us now ta prepare your car for when winter cornes. SAil ut e h c and o th e Brawth BrkeSevies - ie AtoFlcrî i cand Instali Smoke Alarms The Ontario Fire Code requirea thal every home have workîng amoke alarma. Instahi themn in your homne or cottage today!