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We attended the Holland Landing town hall and we were shocked to learn that the cost of the bypass has gone from an estimate of $800 million in 2021 to a new, outrageous estimate of over $4 billion.
So, for a 16-kilometre bypass, that is going to cost Ontarians a quarter of a billion per kilometre. Is this a responsible use of our Ontario tax dollars? We feel it is reckless to spend our taxes on this 16-km bypass, which is not necessary.
The fact is we have better, smarter alternatives right now:
Linking Ravenshoe Road to Line 13 and extending Queensville Sideroad to 8th Line, which connects to Highway 88 at 10th Sideroad, would alleviate congestion. These are excellent solutions in favour of not building this unnecessary bypass. And these road improvements will cost 10 per cent of what the Bradford Bypass would cost and allow for our tax dollars to be put toward other issues, such as nursing shortages, long-term care staffing and OHIP coverage.
Another highway only adds to current human health issues caused by traffic. Have you heard of TRAP (traffic-related air pollution)? It shows the ill effects on human health such as premature birth rates, asthma, cardiovascular disease, reduced lung development in kids and lung function, as well as childhood leukemia.
Chemicals, to which we are exposed: benzene found in gasoline, sodium chloride (road salt), nitrogen oxide emitted by automobiles.
The air quality monitoring station in Newmarket at Eagle Street is already showing air quality measurements that “exceed the World Health Organization guidelines” of 15 parts per million.
This unnecessary bypass will only add more serious risks to Lake Simcoe, a lake already in jeopardy from sodium chloride (road salt). This will further affect wildlife, fish and their habitat.
The auditor general found that this project was “pushed ahead” against staff advice.
We absolutely must write to our federal MPs, as the federal government must intervene when our wetlands, wildlife and fish habitat are in danger.
Donna Deneault
Whitchurch-Stouffville
