Augusta Township received the following notice from the Province/AECOM Canada Ltd.:
NOTICE OF STUDY COMPLETION
PLANNING, PRELIMINARY DESIGN & CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY
HIGHWAY 401 – FROM 1 KM EAST OF HIGHWAY 16 TO 3.3 KM WEST OF MAITLAND ROAD, GWP 4024-20-00
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has undertaken a Planning, Preliminary Design, and Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study for Highway 401 from 1 km east of Highway 1 to 3.3 km west of Maitland Road (County Road 15) for a total length of approximately 20.75 km, located within the Township of Augusta, Town of Prescott, the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
The study looks to address current and future transportation needs by developing a plan for the rehabilitation and/or replacement of 10 bridges & 4 structural culverts, determining the long-term plans for the Maitland Road, Edward Street and Highway 16 interchanges, and establishing the future footprint for interim six lanes and ultimate eight lanes of Highway 401.
Following the development and evaluation of a number of alternatives, a Recommended Plan has been developed to address the structural requirements, to accommodate the future capacity requirements and address operational needs within the study limits. The recommended Plan includes the reconfiguration of the Maitland Road, Edward Street and Highway 16 Interchanges, the replacement of the Merwin Lane Underpass, Blue Church Road Underpass, CPR Overhead and Highway 16 CNR Overhead structures, the replacement of the Lemon’s Creek Culvert, the rehabilitation of three bridges and three culverts at the Highway 401/416 Interchange, and the future expansion of Highway 401 to an interim 6-lane and ultimate 8-lane cross section.
THE PROCESS
This study was completed in accordance with the approved planning process for a Group ‘B’ project under the MTO Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (amended 2000). The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) has been prepared to document the environmental assessment process completed and to advise that the TESR will be available for a 30-day comment period from July 12, 2024 to August 12, 2024.
The TESR is available on the study website and in person at the following locations:
Prescott Town Hall
360 Dibble St. W
Prescott, ON K0E 1T0
Tel: 613-925-2812
Mon-Fri: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Prescott Public Library
360 Dibble St. W
Prescott, ON K0E 1T0
Tel: 613-925-4340
Mon-Fri: 10 am – 7 pm
Sat: 10 am – 7 pm
COMMENTS
You are encouraged to participate in the study and to provide comments in writing to the study team. To obtain additional information or provide comments, please visit the project website or contact one of the Project Team members as follows:
David Brake
MTO Senior Project Manager
Ministry of Transportation, Eastern Region
Capital Planning & Program Development East
1355 John Counter Boulevard, Postal Bag 4000
Kingston, Ontario K7L 5A3
Tel: 13-893-3031
Email: ProjectTeam@highway401PrescottMaitland.ca
Michael Weldon, P.Eng.
AECOM Project Manager
105 Commerce Valley Drive West
Markham, Ontario L3T 7W3
Tel: 905-418-1482
Email: ProjectTeam@highway401PrescottMaitland.ca
REQUESTS TO THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION AND PARKS
In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e. requiring a comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered. Requests should include the requester contact information and full name for the Ministry.
Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for additional conditions or a request for a comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy those potential adverse impacts, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the Ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request.
The request should be sent in writing or by email to the following with a copy of the Ministry of Transportation Project Manager as listed above:
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2J3
minister.mecp@ontario.ca
Director
Environmental Assessment Branch
Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5
EABDirector@ontario.ca
Information collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. If you have any accessibility requirements in order to participate in this study, please contact the Project Team as listed above.
Please note:
We previously received notice of this project in December, 2021 and August, 2023.