Efforts for Wawa's "Connecting Link" project are moving forward.
Wawa Municipal Council received an update on the project from Kresin Engineering during last night's Corporate Planning Committee meeting, mostly an overview of plans.
The project will see work on Mission Road from Chris Simon Drive to Main Street, and on Main Street from that point to Gladstone Avenue - plans are for "frost heave" repairs, drainage improvements, replacement of damaged concrete curbs, and resurfacing of the road asphalt - Kresin noted that the municipality's asset management plan had identified the need to resurface Main Street in 2013 and Mission Road in 2017.
Plans are also for major changes to Mission Road, which will change from the current four lanes of traffic - two each way - to a single lane of traffic each way with a middle turning lane and bicycle lanes alongside the curb on each side - those bike lanes would also continue along Main Street.
Those changes would be achieved by repainting, not by expanding the roadway.
Also planned are controlled pedestrian crossings - with solar-powered, push-button activated signals - proposed for Mission Road at Winston Road and at Magpie Road - while it was noted they do require MTO approval, Council was told the Ministry often tries to "rubber-stamp" such requests, so long as they meet standards, so that shouldn't be an issue.
Questions were raised about those locations and whether crossing guards would be needed - Council was told there could be a variety of reasons for those spots, but they were identified as the optimal places in a recent "road diet", and there would be no need for crossing guards at the spots, though they could be used.
Concerns were raised about the speed of vehicles - particularly with the bike lanes and heavy truck traffic - though Council was told these changes often result in lowered speeds, and assured they could lower the speed limit, if they so wish.
The "Connecting Link" funding will cover 90% of project costs, but does not include sidewalks - Council was told that some sidewalks along the route could be redone as part of annual sidewalk work, while plans for a new fire hydrant on Mission Road would likely be proposed separately in next year's capital budget.
Plans are for a public open house by the end of this year, with detailed design complete by February so the construction tender can be issued by March, to start "when weather conditions permit", then conclude by the end of October - it was noted that construction would require through traffic to be maintained along the route - especially because of the heavy truck traffic - and efforts would be made to maintain access to private properties in the construction zone.
