MPP Arnott pushes for Morriston bypass in the Ontario Legislature
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington – Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2012
MPP Arnott pushes for Morriston bypass in the Ontario
Legislature
(Queen’s Park) – On Tuesday, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott stood in the Ontario Legislature
to call on the Ministry of Transportation to add the Morriston bypass to its 5 year plan.
The project would realign Highway 6 south of Highway 401 in Puslinch to bypass the congested two lane
section through the community of Morriston. The area is currently a bottleneck, with traffic jams that
often stretch for several kilometers.
Mr. Arnott argued that the project would have significant economic benefits throughout the region:
“Highway 6 serves an important economic corridor, linking the 401 to the Hamilton and Niagara regions,
as well as to the U.S. border,” Mr. Arnott told the Legislature. “It is vital to the economy of a large portion
of southern Ontario.”
In May, Mr. Arnott, Puslinch Mayor Dennis Lever, and several other municipal representatives met with
Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli to discuss the need and how to best move forward with the project.
In the coming weeks, Mr. Arnott intends to seek the support of other area MPPs.
“This traffic jam in Morriston happens to be in my Riding, but the congestion impacts many other ridings
as well,” said Mr. Arnott. “I am soon going to be writing my neighbouring colleagues in the House to ask
for their support, as the project will benefit their ridings just as much as it will benefit our area.”
Mr. Arnott has been advocating for the Morriston bypass for years and will continue to highlight the issue
in the Ontario Legislature.
“The Government plans to spend $2.4 billion on highway infrastructure this year,” he concluded. “We
need our fair share, and we need to know when we’re going to be on the Ministry’s 5 year plan.”
(Attached: Hansard record of Ted Arnott’s statement in the Ontario Legislature, September 11, 2012.)
– 30 –
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ontario Hansard – 11-September2012
Mr. Ted Arnott: As I begin my 23rd year of service in this House, I want to thank my constituents for
granting me the privilege of speaking on their behalf in this place.
I return to an issue I’ve raised many times: the need for a bypass around the community of Morriston in
Puslinch township, south of Guelph. This project would realign Highway 6 south of the 401, bypassing
the congested two-lane section through Morriston. This portion of Highway 6 is currently a bottleneck,
with traffic jams that often stretch for several kilometres. Highway 6 serves as an important economic
corridor, linking the 401 to the Hamilton and Niagara regions as well as to the US border. It is vital to the
economy of a large portion of southern Ontario.
On May 29, Mayor Dennis Lever, other municipal representatives and I met with the Minister of
Transportation in his office. Working together, we followed up yet again on this vital project, asking
when the project will be placed on the ministry’s five-year construction plan.
This traffic jam in Morriston happens to be in my riding, but the congestion impacts many other ridings as
well. I am soon going to be writing my neighbouring colleagues in the House to ask for their support, as
the project will benefit their ridings just as much as it will benefit our area. We are also working with
others who have an interest in this project, to get them to speak up.
The environmental assessment has been done. Property acquisition needs to be accelerated. The
government plans to spend $2.4 billion on highway infrastructure this year. We need our fair share, and
we need to know when we’re going to be on the ministry’s five-year plan.