During their meeting yesterday, the regional council voted unanimously in favor of initiating early works projects at a busy intersection this year. This decision comes as the planning for a final design proceeds, with expectations to present it back to the council in the spring of next year.

Janet Steele, representing District 12, expressed her satisfaction that the delays experienced in the earlier part of the year did not hinder the progress of beginning work this summer. “I was worried with the month or so delay that we had in January and February that it might mean that things would not be happening this summer, but they are moving forward and that’s great,” she stated.

Support for the motion was echoed by District 9 Councillor Shawn Cleary, who emphasized the importance of starting preliminary work ahead of a finalized plan. He noted that this approach would allow the city to remain eligible for external funding. "Nothing here precludes the discussion that we had earlier that it’s imperative that we get a rapid transit through this area and we have safe AT (active transportation) infrastructure,” Cleary asserted. He also highlighted the risk of losing access to external funding if they waited for the design to be completed, stating that it could take an additional 8 to 12 months.

City staff informed the council that by commencing work this year, the project would maintain eligibility for $30 million in external funding from both federal and provincial governments. This financial support is crucial for the progression of the project and its associated infrastructure enhancements.

The preliminary work on the project is scheduled to kick off in August, beginning with underground work in the vicinity of Forrester, Bayne, and Mackintosh streets. Following this initial phase, preparations for a new overpass will begin, which will inevitably lead to some lane reductions later in the fall.