Planners rule out adding Highway 401 interchange at Speedsville Road TheRecord.com - CanadaWorld - Planners rule out adding Highway 401 interchange at Speedsville Road
Jeff Outhit
RECORD STAFF
CAMBRIDGE
Highway planners have ruled out adding a Highway 401 interchange at Speedsville Road.
Such an interchange would damage Speed River wetlands, compromise traffic safety and worsen congestion, they contend.
"It would be a hindrance, adding an interchange at Speedsville," said Scott Howard, project manager for the Ministry of Transportation.
Instead, the ministry proposes better connections between Highway 401 and Highway 8, at an undefined cost exceeding $100 million. This proposal includes:
Two highway-to-highway ramps that would soar above a
reconfigured interchange at King Street.
A reconfigured interchange at Sportsworld Drive and Highway 8.
The proposal released yesterday is intended to improve Highway 401 access in south Kitchener and Cambridge. It has no launch date and is not among projects the province plans to construct within five years.
The rejection of an interchange at Speedsville Road was both panned and praised by residents at a public information centre.
"I think they should have had one 20 years ago," Jim Cassel said. "It's the industrial basin of the city."
Steve Halicki also feels Speedsville Road needs an interchange. "They've done this in Toronto," he said. "Why could they do it in Toronto but they can't do it here?"
Mike Dearden and Larry Johnston say Speedsville is the wrong place for another interchange. "It's too tight between Highway 24 and Highway 8 to put in another full interchange," Dearden said.
"I fully understand the mess it would create on the 401," Johnston said.
Planners say Speedsville Road will get a new bridge over the 401 but not an interchange. They contend an interchange would:
Impact Speed River wetlands.
Increase traffic on Speedsville and Royal Oak roads.
This is because, in a short space heading up a steep hill, vehicles entering the 401 from Speedsville would have to weave against vehicles exiting the 401 at Highway 8.
Planners say this would "create conflicts, congestion and compromise traffic safety." In peak hours they predict westbound traffic would back up almost to Hespeler Road.
The ministry proposes instead to construct more flyover ramps where Highway 401 meets Highway 8.
Motorists heading out of Kitchener on Highway 8 would take a new flyover to go west on Highway 401. This would get them off King Street.
Motorists heading eastbound on Highway 401 would take a new flyover to enter Kitchener on Highway 8. This would get them off King Street.
Interchanges at Sportsworld Drive and at King Street would be reconfigured to improve traffic flow.
This would consume nine hectares, disrupting a corner of the Sportsworld Crossing shopping plaza in Kitchener and part of a proposed Limerick Drive subdivision in Cambridge.
Affected developers are aware of highway plans.
jouthit@therecord.com