Orillia Councillor Don Jenkins wants to see the Province upgrade the Highway 12 bypass.
He says whats needed is to widen the bypass — between Memorial Avenue and Mississaga Street West — and the Highway 11 bridge to four lanes.
Council has backed his posiltion and has directed the mayor to lobby the provincial government for the improvements,
Jenkins says ever since Casino Rama opened and the OPP constructed its Provincial headquarters building on Memorial Drive, the by pass has been flooded with increased traffic loads.
He says the traffic backups make the route dangerous and unacceptable for emergency vehicles and there’s no easy way for them to get to Highway 11 North.
Jenkins says with 2011, being an election year the city may get some results or at least a promise from the Province.
He says its during the afternoon rush hour is when the worst grid lock occurres and if there were ever an emergency situation a the Westridge plaza or the new arena, emergency vehicles would be hard pressed to get there in a timly fashion.
Jenkins also says if the city ever constructs a new fire hall on the by pass where the temporary library is located, those trucks would face the same traffic congestion problems.
