Highway 11 Business Survey

The Corporation of the Town of Gravenhurst is undertaking a study on the potential affect to businesses located on Highway 11 based on proposed changes under development by the Ministry of Transportation. The proposed changes are looking at creating a six lane, limited access highway that would see the development of Service Roads for access to residential and business properties located on the highway.

If you are a business owner, who is located on Highway 11 between the Severn Bridge and the south entrance into Town, we need your help to develop and expand on our arguments to the Ministry against the development of this controlled access highway.

Click here for questionnaire. Upon completion mail or email your response to Peter Rigby, Community Economic Development Officer.

All information gathered will be held in strictest confidence.

Peter Rigby
Community Economic Development Officer
Town of Gravenhurst
3 - 5 Pineridge Gate
Gravenhurst, On P1P 1Z3
Tel: 705-687-3412 x 271
Cell: 705-241-4150
Fax: 705-687-7016
Email: prigby@gravenhurst.ca
Web: www.gravenhurst.ca

The following information was presented at the December 21, 2010 presentation to Town Council. Please review information and provide me with your comments. This information will be part of discussion at our meeting of January 6 or 7 and will be included in motion to council for response to proposal.

The following are links to the design proposal together with presentation materials.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67904955/Porject-Details
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67905058/Realignment-1
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67905013/Realignment-2
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67905119/Kilworthy-1
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67905164/Kilworthy-2
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/67905195/Kilworthy-3


Any questions contact me by email at prigby@gravenhurst.ca . Note, I will be out of office from December 24 until January 4.

Peter

Public Information Centre, Feb. 16, 2010

The following link will provide the reader with access to a pdf that was prepared and presented by URS on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation at a Public Information Centre held in Gravenhurst on February 16, 2010. This will provide the reader with a broad understanding of the proposed changes to Highway 11 from Washago to Gravenhurst. Please read and get familiar with the proposal. http://www.highway11study.ca/pdf/Public%20Information%20Centre%201%20Displays.pdf

Alternate Route Proposal

The images attached, show the total study area for the re-alignment of Highway 11. Recently the Ministry of Transportation published four new alternate routes that could see Highway 11 swing east from the existing road bed and end up going through the Gull and Silver Lake area. These images will provide you with knowledge of what those proposed routes are.

For more detailed information on the study area go to www.highway11study.ca.

The Challenge

In response to a study currently underway by URS Consulting on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation, the Town of Gravenhurst is developing a response that will be focusing on the economic, personal and environmental impact of the proposed changes.

The URS study is to look at several options relating to the re-alignment of the Highway 11 road bed between the southern portion of Highway 169 (Washago) and the northern portion of Highway 169 (south entrance to Gravenhurst).The ultimate vision for this section of Highway 11 is a controlled access freeway, which will limit all vehicle access to the highway to interchange locations only. Closure of at-grade intersections and entrances, improvements to existing interchanges, and the possible introduction of new interchanges as well as service road connections to provide alternative access for residences and businesses fronting on to Highway 11 will be examined as part of this study.

The main transportation issues put forward by the MTO include:
Ø Congestion during summer peak periods;
Ø Need for additional capacity to address projected future travel demand;
Ø Tight horizontal curves;
Ø Steep grades;
Ø Short speed change lanes;
Ø Sight distance concerns at entrances;
Ø Narrow median shoulders;
Ø Areas of unpaved outside shoulders;
Ø Rock cut close to traveled lanes;
Ø Safety

The main issue for the Town of Gravenhurst is the potential negative impact on a significant portion of our business community and the impact this can have on the realty tax revenues generated by these businesses. In addition there could also be significant adverse effects on the environment and on the property values of both seasonal and permanent residents located on either side of the highway.

The purpose of this blog is to allow all cottagers, ratepayers, businesses and visitors of the Town of Gravenhurst the opportunity to post their comments on the effect that the re-alignment of Highway 11 could have.