The Welcome to Grand Bend sign on Grand Bend Line. August 9, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)The Welcome to Grand Bend sign on Grand Bend Line. August 9, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, BlackburnNews)
Sarnia

Renewed hope for Grand Bend road widening

It's as sure as death and taxes, inching along Highway 21 North, trying to get to Main Street in Grand Bend on a summer-long holiday weekend.

There's renewed hope that the province will cough up the money needed to widen the connecting link roadway as well as replace the 60-year-old, two-lane bridge that leads to bottlenecks of heavy summertime traffic.

Lambton Shores Deputy Mayor Doug Cook said they met recently with the transportation minister's parliamentary assistant, who had a firsthand look at the problem area.

"She's was very positive on what the government can do for us at this point," said Cook. "They appreciate the fact that it is a Highway 21 corridor, the connecting link that travels all the way from Goderich right through to the 402 with a high volume of truck and other vehicle traffic."

Cook says about four years ago they applied for funding to replace the bridge, but the province expanded the project to include widening the road from No Frills to the south to Oak Street to the north.

He says the price tag has risen to between $8 million and $9 million, with the municipality picking up at least 10 per cent.

Cook says newly appointed Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek of London has to be briefed on the project, and there's no indication as to when, or if, funding will be forthcoming.

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