HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-13-109 - Highway 7 Kitchener to Guelph - Status Update - Complete
REPORT TO:
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
November 18, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Justin Readman, Director of Transportation Services
Ken Carmichael, Manager of Transportation Planning
PREPARED BY:
519-741-2200, extension 7372
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
Wards 1 and 10
DATE OF REPORT:
November 8, 2013
REPORT NO.:
INS-13-109
SUBJECT:HIGHWAY 7, KITCHENER TO GUELPH – STATUS UPDATE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That this report be received for information purposes only.
BACKGROUND:
The Environmental Assessment for the proposed alignment of new Highway 7 between
Kitchener and Guelph was approved on March 21, 2007. This new highway includes:
A new alignment north of existing Highway 7, extending from the KW Expressway at
the east limit of Wellington Street (at Riverbend Drive) in Kitchener to the north limit of
the Hanlon Expressway (Highway 6) in Guelph.
A four lane divided, controlled access freeway.
This report serves to provide an update on the status of this Provincial new highway project.
REPORT:
Ministry of Transportation – Ontario (MTO) staff has been contacted in order to obtain
information related to the impending development of a new Highway 7 between Kitchener and
Guelph.
The Environmental Assessment, which incorporates legislated public contact / input
requirements, for the development of a new four lane, controlled access freeway between
Kitchener and Guelph was approved on March 21, 2007. This process established the design
concept for this highway, including alignment and proposed interchanges. The proposed
alignment extends easterly from the K-W Expressway at Wellington Street, north of existing
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Highway 7 (Victoria Street), over the Grand River into Bridgeport, then easterly to tie into
Highway 6 North in Guelph in the area of the Hanlon Expressway. Interchanges proposed
within the City of Kitchener include access to/from Wellington Street, Riverbend Drive, Victoria
Street, Bingeman’s Centre Drive and Bridge Street. A plan of the proposed highway,
including ramp connections, is attached.
This project is currently identified in the MTO’s 2013-2017 Southern Highways Program under
“Southern Expansion”. The completion date is currently identified as “beyond 2016”. The
MTO has a consultant engaged completing the initial design phase to “Design Build Ready”.
This includes foundations and geotechnical investigations, surveying, preliminary structural
design, environmental field work and highway engineering to completely scope the project.
An initial design report is expected to be published for 30-day public comment in the fall of
2013.
The MTO is currently working on a delivery schedule for the new Highway 7 based on it being
a design – build project. Plans are to undertake utility investigations, obtain environmental
permits and undertake First Nations consultation over the next year. Property acquisition is
underway with the intent to obtain all required properties by October, 2014.
Planning staff has been consulted in order to identify the potential implications to the City of
Kitchener, particularly in the Bridgeport area. Accordingly, the Region of Waterloo has
advised that one of the ultimate solutions to the volume of through traffic on Bridge Street and
Lancaster area of Bridgeport is the construction of new Highway 7. With the recent
development of the new Bridge Street bridge and roundabout at Lancaster Street / Bridge
Street and its operations performing well, the Region has officially lifted its development cap in
the Bridgeport area (Bridgeport North and East). This could lead to the completion of new
subdivisions in Bridgeport North and small infill developments in Bridgeport East.
Connection of the new Highway 7 at Wellington Street may lead to increased interest in
employment development in this vicinity. Lands in the area are designated and zoned for
business park and industrial uses and landowners are engaged in the new Official Plan. The
area would have improved access for vehicles, but less transit supportive.
There may be longer term impacts if new Highway 7 changes traffic patterns on Victoria Street
North. This area is identified in the Region’s plans for improved transit service in the future.
The MTO advise that they intend to provide a presentation of this project to City of Kitchener
Council once the project has been formally funded and scheduled for construction.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This initiative falls under the Community Priority of Quality of Life. “Work with partners,
including all orders of government, to create a culture of safety in our community.”
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
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COMMUNICATIONS:
The Ministry of Transportation – Ontario will ensure significant public input opportunities for
this project, including:
Project website
Public Information Centre
Newspaper advertisements
Design / construction report for public filing
Presentation to a future Community and Infrastructures Services Committee meeting.
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Infrastructure Services Department
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