‘Barrier’ group optimistic with PC’s in power

(OPP)

With the provincial election results tabulated, a 401 safety advocacy group is preparing to continue their work.

With the Progressive Conservatives winning the 2018 election handily along with every MPP in the ridings along and bordering Highway 401’s “Carnage Alley”, 401 safety advocates are optimistic concrete median barriers will soon be a reality.

Group officials say Doug Ford promised during two campaign visits to the Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding to build concrete median barriers on Highway 401 between London and Tilbury – an important priority for this region both from a safety perspective for drivers and first responders, and from an economic perspective as each time the highway is closed (countless times in 2018 alone) millions of dollars of goods are held up from their final destination.

“Premier-Designate Ford said today that he keeps his promises. I look forward to working with him and MPPs Rick
Nicholls and Jeff Yurek to ensure this life and death issue gets the same treatment”, says Alysson Storey, founder of Build the Barrier, a grassroots group advocating for concrete median barriers between Tilbury and London.

“We do not want one more life lost in a preventable crossover collision. Mr. Ford has the opportunity to start this new chapter off on the right foot. He can do that by listening to his southwestern Ontario MPPs and their constituents and getting this done. Rick and Jeff have been working on this with us since day one, so there’s no learning curve and no reason to delay. It’s time to get this done.”

Build the Barrier advocates focused on building strong relationships with all three major parties this election and spent a significant amount of time briefing each candidate on this issue. All local candidates had agreed to build the concrete median barrier if elected.

With PCs Rick Nicholls, Jeff Yurek and Monte McNaughton all re-elected and now in government, along with the three Windsor-Essex MPPs Lisa Gretzky, Percy Hatfield and Taras Natyshak, the voice for 401 safety in this region has never been stronger, the group says.

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