Stakeholder and Community Engagement

Engaging with Indigenous communities, businesses, and stakeholders is a key part of this project. MTO is committed to keeping people informed and involved throughout the study.

To share updates and gather feedback, we’re using a variety of communication methods, including:

Direct notices to interested agencies, stakeholders, and community members
Newspaper ads in the Chronicle Journal and The Times Star
Updates on community websites
Information sessions and meetings with local groups

As new engagement opportunities are scheduled, notices will be posted on this website.

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Environmental Assessment Process

Overview of the Environmental Assessment Process

The project is being carried out under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways, 2024 (MTO Class EA) for Group A projects. This process is used for transportation projects that include significant realignments of sections of roadway.

The MTO Class EA is a self-assessment approach that ensures environmental impacts are considered alongside engineering design and public input. The goal is to ensure that environmental impacts are carefully considered and managed. The process includes engineering studies, environmental reviews, and consultation with Indigenous communities, stakeholder groups, regulatory agencies, and the public.

Where We Are in the Process

We are currently in the planning and preliminary design phase. This includes:

Reviewing early pre-planning findings
Collecting site information through field investigations
Undertaking detailed consultation
Confirming the project's purpose and options
Preliminary highway design efforts to determine necessary improvements
Evaluating, selecting, and documenting the preferred design

What Happens Next

As part of this phase, a transportation environmental study report (TESR) will be prepared. This report will include:

An evaluation of the design options and identification of the preferred alternative
A description of the proposed upgrades
Details of environmental impacts and how they will be mitigated
Details of the consultation program
A summary of future studies and/or commitments

The TESR will be available for public review for 30 days. A notice will be published in local newspapers and on the project website to let people know where they can access the report and how to provide feedback. Once published, the TESR will also be available for review on the Downloads page. Later stages of the project will include detailed design, construction, and monitoring.

For more information on the environmental assessment process, please contact the project team or visit the MTO Class EA page.

Flow Chart displaying the MTO Class EA process, indicating the project is in the preliminary design phase

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Source: Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways 2024