By Cecilia Nasmith

The Town of Cobourg and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation have retained Stantec Consulting Ltd. to undertake work toward a new Highway 401 interchange near Nagle Road in the Town of Cobourg and Township of Hamilton.

This work consists of a Planning, Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study, the purpose of which is to identify a recommended plan that addresses future transportation and planning needs in the study area.

The town's press release stated that the interchange study is a Cobourg initiative, being completed concurrently with the ministry's Highway 401 Planning Study from Cobourg to Colborne.

The study will review existing conditions, develop and evaluate interchange alternatives, identify a preferred plan and develop environmental-protection and -mitigation measures. A recommended plan will be confirmed and designated when the study is complete.

The study is a Group B project under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities. Along with undertaking environmental and engineering field investigations, it includes seeking input from stakeholders. Two Public Information Centres are planned (combined with the Highway 401 Planning Study) to satisfy this requirement.

Upon completion of a preliminary design, a Transportation Environmental Study Report will be prepared and made available for public review. Notices will be published in local newspapers to advertise the public-review period.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate in this process and provide comments in writing to the project team. If you would like your name added to the project's mailing list or have questions, you can contact:

Consultant project manager Gregg Cooke, Stantec Consulting Ltd., 200-835 Paramount Dr., Stoney Creek ON L8J 0B4 (alternatively, call 905-381-3227 or collect at 905-385-3234 or e-mail comments@highway401cobourgcolborne.ca)

Project engineer Muhammad Waseem, Ministry of Transportation Eastern Region, 1355 John Counter Boulevard, Postal Bag 4000, Kingston ON K7L 5A3 (alternatively, call 613-545-4743 or toll-free at 1-800-267-0295 or e-mail comments@highway401cobourgcolborne.ca)

Manager of engineering and capital projects Terry Hoekstra, Town of Cobourg, 740 Division St., Building 7, Cobourg ON K9A 0H6 (alternatively, call 905-372-9971 ext. 4371 or e-mail comments@highway401cobourgcolborne.ca)

Information on this study can be found at www.highway401cobourgcolborne.ca, where project information (including study notices, background information, Public Information Centre displays and the Transportation Environmental Study Report) will be made available as the study progresses. You can also submit comments at the project website.

Comments and information collected will assist the ministry in meeting the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This data will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All comments will be maintained on file for use during this study and, with the exception of personal information, may be included in study documentation and become part of the public record.