The MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex is questioning the Ministry of Transporation about the possibility of twinning Highway 40 between Chatham and Wallaceburg.
Monte McNaughton wrote a letter to Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, addressing the issue.
“Allow me to draw to your attention the matter of heavy and increasing traffic on Highway 40 between Chatham and Wallaceburg,” McNaughton wrote.
“In the past three years alone, according to the Chatham-Kent OPP detachment, there have been 142 vehicle collisions on this stretch of highway resulting in 27 cases of serious injury and four fatalities. I would suggest that these are unacceptably high numbers.”
McNaughton said not only would a four-lane divided highway be much safer, there would be other benefits.
“A thoroughfare capable of handling an increased volume of traffic south from Wallaceburg to Highway 401 would be highly beneficial in promoting economic development in Wallaceburg, and throughout the region,” McNaughton wrote.
“In addition this would serve well the agricultural sector, so strong in north Kent, and so important to the economy of Ontario.”
McNaughton asked Del Duca if the Ministry of Transporation has a plan that includes an upgrade to the main transportation route between Chatham and Wallaceburg.
“If there is not a plan to make these improvements to Highway 40, I ask that you direct your ministry staff to examine this exciting proposal which would be of benefit to my constituents in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and for the prosperity of the Ontario economy as a whole,” he wrote.
Just last month, a Chatham man died following a crash between an ambulance and a van on Highway 40, just outside of Wallaceburg.
What do you think?
[polldaddy poll=”9514702″]
I believe a much less expensive alternative would be paving the Prince Albert all the way from Baseline Road to Chatham. That would give people more options and have a closer route to the #401 joining up on the east side of Chatham and not through the city. Never understood why it wasn’t considered years ago.