Below is further information on the most frequently asked questions and comments related to the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange Project to date.
Concerns regarding signalized intersections along Wellington Road 34 would impede traffic/ request for the Project Team to consider roundabout(s).
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
- Traffic signals are not required at Wellington Road 34 and Midblock Connection Road. A left turn lane will be provided on Wellington Road 34 to minimize impacts to through traffic.
- Wellington Road 34 and Concession Road 7 will be constructed as a roundabout.
Reference: Roundabout
Concerns with emergency response times and access routes.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
- To address concerns with emergency services access to southbound and northbound Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway within the Study Area, two emergency / maintenance vehicle turnarounds along Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway will be provided as follows:
- South of Wellington Road 34 at the existing turnaround location; and
- North of the existing Maltby Road / Concession Road 4 intersection.
- Emergency access to the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway from Wellington Road 34 would present significant safety, operational and environmental concerns including the following:
- Additional impacts to the Provincially Significant Wetland that would result from implementation of an emergency access in this location; and
- That the entrance to southbound Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway would result in significant highway safety concerns as it would be located on or in the vicinity of a high-speed ramp entrance.
Reference: Property and Emergency Access
Concerns regarding property access throughout and after construction.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
- Legal property entrances will be reinstated and modified as necessary to match roadway improvements.
- Construction on some entrances will require Permission to Enter and Construct from property owners beyond the roadway right-of-way. The Project Team will be contacting affected property owners in Winter 2021/2022.
- Affected driveways throughout the Study Area will be accessible throughout construction and reinstated in consultation with the property owners.
Permission to Enter and Construct Sample Form (PDF)
Reference: Property and Emergency Access
Concerns with improving highways for vehicular transportation and preference for more public transportation projects in this region.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
The approved Highways 6 and 401 Improvements will provide a better connection between the Highways 6 and 401 corridors which will reduce road congestion, collision potential and associated costs, encourage the utilization of Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway and support municipal planning initiatives. The need for highway improvements is highlighted by the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) population and employment growth forecasts. By 2051, the population of the GGH is expected to grow to 14.8 million people, and unmanaged growth can have negative impacts on the region’s air quality, water resources and natural heritage resources. Improvements to the existing highway network is key for the safe and efficient movement of goods and people, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other negative environmental impacts.
For more information on the regional transit plans, please see the GGH Transportation Plan at https://www.ontario.ca/page/greater-golden-horseshoe-ggh-transportation-plan. Additionally, Metrolinx (the agency responsible for GO Transit) has a Regional Transportation Plan outlining plans for public transit in Ontario available here: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/regionalplanning/rtp/
Reference: Purpose of the Project
Concerns regarding impacts to groundwater and water wells.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
Comprehensive groundwater and hydrological studies are being undertaken in consultation with Conservation Authorities, Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Northern Development, Mines and Natural Resources and Forestry (NDMNRF) following the current design standards from these agencies, and in accordance with MECP's Conditions of Approval of the approved Environmental Assessment. These studies will confirm conditions and mitigate potential impacts of the Project on the groundwater resources and wetland areas.
A Well Monitoring Plan will be developed in detailed design by the Design-Build contractor in accordance with the Guidelines of Drinking Well Water Sampling and Testing in Ministry of Transportation Activities, 2004 and will follow MECP accepted sampling and testing methodology. Monitoring of wells will be carried out before, during and following construction phase if property owners allow.
Reference: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation - Groundwater
Concerns regarding impacts to fish and fish habitat.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
Fish community surveys, minnow trapping and assessment of potential impacts as a result of the Project have been undertaken for the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange Project. Five out of seven watercourse crossings identified within the Study Area, support fish species including Brook Trout and Brown Trout.
In consultation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) the Design-Build Ready design includes improvements to Brook Trout and Brown Trout habitat within the Study Area with larger, open bottom or perforated bottom culverts that support cold water fisheries by restoring groundwater connectivity to improve spawning habitat at the existing crossings. These mitigation measures are being finalized by the Design-Build contractor in consultation with the DFO and will be approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies prior to construction start.
Additionally, the Project will include mitigation measures for design and construction related to dewatering, surface water flow control, working in/near water bodies, and erosion control measures as well as replacement of riparian habitat where necessary to mitigate impacts to the fish habitat during construction.
Reference: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation- Fish and Fish Habitat
Concerns regarding impacts to wildlife including Species at Risk.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
Terrestrial Ecosystem field investigations have included:
- Classification of vegetation communities and inventory of plant species and trees;
- Surveys of breeding birds, amphibians and other wildlife;
- Surveys of Species at Risk (SAR); and
- Specific SAR surveys including habitat suitability assessment and acoustic monitoring.
These studies and the assessment of potential impacts as a result of the Project have been undertaken for the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange Project and have identified multiple best practices and mitigations that will be applied during construction including but not limited to:
- Implementation of buffers, protective fencing and erosion and sediment control measures during construction to mitigate impacts to environmentally sensitive features within and outside of the Study Area;
- Restoration / re-vegetation of temporarily disturbed areas following construction; and
- Application of timing restrictions for removal of habitat (i.e., trees and shrubs) imposed by regulatory agencies to avoid harm to migratory birds, aquatic species and SAR.
In addition to mitigation during construction, the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange Project will include the overall benefit plans for SAR species (habitat planting, monitoring and protection) as well as improvements to Brook Trout and Brown Trout habitat within the Study Area. These mitigation measures and overall benefit plans are being completed by the Project Team in consultation with MECP and the DFO and approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies prior to construction start.
Reference: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation - Terrestrial Ecosystems and Species At Risk
Concerns regarding loss of trees and impacts to vegetation.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
The Design-Build contractor will be responsible for finalizing a landscape plan during the Design-Build phase that includes edge plantings where possible. The landscape plan will be completed by a Landscape Architect and will include vegetative barriers made of native species to protect the exposed edge vegetation from impacts due to exposure to wind and salt spray. The plantings will be designed to replace vegetation lost during construction as well as to replace habitat for animals, provide aesthetic enhancement and to increase soil stability. The landscape plan will also ensure replacement of riparian vegetation to mitigate impacts to fish and fish habitat and proper vegetation plantings within the infiltration ponds designed for stormwater management within the ramp loops of the Midblock Interchange.
Reference: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation - Landscape
Concerns about the increase of noise.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
A Traffic Noise Assessment was completed in accordance with Ministry of Transportation Environmental Noise Guide, 2006. Noise impacts were determined by comparing future (2041) ambient noise levels without the highway improvements and future (2041) noise levels with the highway improvements using an MTO approved traffic noise model, based on 2041 predicted traffic metrics.
The determination of whether mitigation is provided is based on the review of technical, economical, and administrative feasibility. All conditions must be met for noise mitigation to be constructed. Based on the ministry noise study, 2 receptors/residences were considered for mitigation; however, they do not meet the required feasibility criteria and as such do not warrant mitigation.
Reference: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation - Noise
Questions about the schedule for this and other components of the Highways 6 and 401 Improvement project.
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
Proposals from Design-Build teams were submitted to the Ministry of Transportation in November of 2021. The Design-Build contract for the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange is anticipated to be awarded in early 2022 with construction expected to begin following detailed design and a 30-day comment period for the Design and Construction Report(s). Construction is expected to be complete at the end of 2025.
Timing for the implementation of any following phase of the Highways 6 and 401 Improvements project will depend on several factors including acquiring property, relocation of utilities, environmental permits and approvals and available funding.
Reference: Project Schedule
What portions of the highway and municipal roadways will be illuminated and what intersections will have traffic signals?
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
There will be partial illumination within the Study Area including localized illumination at the following locations:
- Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange;
- Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange ramp terminal intersections;
- Wellington Road 34 / Concession Road 7 roundabout and approaches;
- Wellington Road 34 / Midblock Connection Road intersection;
- Concession Road 7 / Midblock Connection Road intersection; and
- Heritage Lake Estates entrance along Wellington Road 34.
The Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock interchange ramp terminal intersections will have traffic signals.
Traffic signals are not required at Wellington Road 34 and the Midblock Connection Road. A left turn lane will be provided on Wellington Road 34 to minimize impacts to through traffic.
The intersection of Wellington Road 34 and Concession Road 7 will be constructed as a roundabout.
Reference: Traffic Control and Illumination
Why is the new interchange north of the existing Wellington Road 34 and Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway intersection, why is the interchange not constructed at Wellington Road 34 and Hanlon Expressway?
How the concern/comment has been addressed:
The location and configuration for the Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange was determined in the approved Environmental Assessment. The interchange location was carefully chosen to minimize impacts to the Provincially Significant Wetland and environmentally sensitive area around the existing Wellington Road 34 and Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway intersection. An interchange at Wellington Road 34 would result in substandard spacing between the Highway 401 and Wellington Road 34 ramps, which would lead to traffic weaving concerns along Highway 6 between the two interchanges. The Midblock Interchange is anticipated to result in better operations along Highway 6 / Hanlon Expressway while minimizing impacts to a Provincially Significant Wetland.