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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Report January 19 1978.................. R E P O R T January 19; 1978, To: Mayor G.B. Rickard & Members of Council. From: J. Dunham, Director of Public Works. Subject: Future North-South Arterial Road in East Bowmanville. Further to a Meeting with the Region Planning Department, attended by Members of the Town of Newcastle Council, and two public meetings held in Bowmanville, Council, on November 21, 1977, by Resolution # C-77-1597, recommended Alternative # 4 to the Regional Planning & Development Committee. The following are my comments in regard to the subject future arterial road: - Alternatives Nos. 3 and 4 were under consideration by the Region Planning & Development and Works Committees and, as a result, Alternative # 3 was recommended to Regional Council. On January 4, 1978, the Regional Council tabled the matter for one month pending further comments from the Town of Newcastle. The estimated cost (as prepared by the Region) is $3.7 million for either Alternative 3 or 41 this figure being exclusive of land acquisition; however, land acquisition is a vital factor and should have been taken into consid- eration when comparative cost estimates for both alter- natives were being prepared. I fail to see land acquisition costs being identical for each alternative, and it is a fair assumption that such costs would be considerably less for Alternative it 4. Concerns relating to improving Highway No. 2. were express- ed, as a result of which the Region of Durham responded by saying that improvements to Highway No. 2 were not req- uired to accommodate the growth in Bowmanville ( as shown in the Official Plan) if Alternative # 3 were to be im- plemented, although such improvements may be required after the 'planning horizon'. If this is the case, I would then question why improvements to Highway No. 2 are recommended in Alternative # 4? January 19, 1978. - 2 - In my opinion it is quite evident that improvements will be required to Highway No. 2, regardless of where the proposed arterial road is located, and it is equally poss- ible that they will be necessary prior to the so-called 'planning horizon'. Concerns were also expressed in relation to the 'barrier effect' of the arterial road through a residential area. As proposed in Alternative # 3, the new arterial road would be designed to a lower urban design speed of 50-60 km/hr (30-40 m.p.h); apart from this, north of Highway No. 2 Alternative # 3 still results in a division of a resident- ial community. Disruption to the Bowmanville Cemetery and the Maranatha Christian Reformed Church is a concern; as commented by the Region : "If alternative # 3 were selected, no land would be required from the Cemetery and it is expected that the parking facilities for the Maranatha Christian Reformed Church would be relocated south-east of the Church with the associated costs borne by the implementing agency". Unless there are some improvements to Highway No. 2, congestion would occur where Alternative # 3 intersects, and correcting this would probably involve further disrupt- ion to the existing Church setting. Also, south of this the land is industrial, and if the proposed arterial road is to be a controlled access road, then additional land would be lost in acquiring access to any industrial dev- elopment. Without preliminary engineering I cannot support the comment that "no land would be required from the Cemetery". The existing pavement between the Cemetery and the Church is approximately eighteen (18) feet, and the total width between the Church parking lot and the Cemetery is approx- imately thirty-eight (38) feet; from this it would appear that additional land would be required from both properties in order to obtain an eighty-six (86) foot right-of-way. Environmental and Social impacts are determined by the number of properties affected, regardless as to which alternative is adopted. However, from Highway No. 401 to Highway No. 2 the impact would most definitely be greatly reduced if Alternative # 4 was accepted and implemented. North of Highway No. 2, Alternative # 3 would have a con- siderable detrimental environmental impact on stream crossings and woodlots. Alternative # 4 greatly reduces the environmental distortion. January 19, 1978. - 3 - Based on the foregoing evaluation, and unlike the other comments that neither Alternative # 3 nor # 4 "clearly stands out as a preferred choice" I recommend Alternative # 4 be adopted from Highway No. 401 to Highway No. 2. Costs associated with the construction of the proposed arterial road have not been defined but, rather, have been referred to as "being borne by the implementing agency". Consideration should be given to the Town of Newcastle being the "implementing agency" as this would result in the arterial road being located to the optimum advantage of the Town. I do not agree with the comments that "the Training School Road, north of Highway No. 2, Mearns Avenue and Concession Street would have to be improved" as the timing and design will be the decision of the Town of Newcastle. Finally I would state that, in my opinion, the action taken by Council in Resolution # C-77-1597 should be upheld, and recommended, in the strongest terms, to the Regional Municipality of Durham. cc: Mr. A. Guiler, Town Manager.