Bradford West Gwillimbury residents have not yet gone to the polls to vote in the next provincial election, but town council is already urging the candidates to commit to the construction of a Highway 400-404 connecting link after the election.
Bradford council approved Tuesday night a draft letter by Mayor Rob Keffer that will be sent to all the local MPP candidates about the connecting link, calling it a “matter of great importance to the people of York-Simcoe.”
“Council and our constituents need to know your position on moving forward with construction of the Highway 400-404 Connecting Link. Please assure us that you and (the party leader) are committed to the near-term construction of the highway,” read the letter.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Coun. Mark Contois said it is time for the public to put pressure on the York-Simcoe MPP candidates.
“They want growth; they’re pushing growth. You got to make sure there’s no congestion,” he said.
“This is the time to put the pressure on (the candidates),” added Coun. Peter Dykie Jr., noting he would like to see the York-Simcoe MPP candidates make a commitment to the project at a Meet the Candidates evening May 16.
The proposed 16.2-kilometre connecting link would have four lanes and “provide a much needed east-west connection between Highway 400 in Bradford West Gwillimbury and Highway 404 in East Gwillimbury,” read the letter.
The letter notes the municipality is grateful for the province’s decision to formally identify the link as an “important transportation corridor” after years of local communities and Simcoe County representatives advocated for a link.
A connecting link would help ease traffic congestion as the local York Region and Simcoe County populations are expected to grow to 2.6 million people by 2041, and it would also support economic development in the area, the letter read.
“We need strong leadership from the provincial government on transportation improvements for the York-Simcoe riding,” read the letter.
