Hwy 144 bypass plans draw mixed reviews
Highway to go around Chelmsford, Dowling in Sudbury region
CBC News
Posted: Jan 23, 2013 10:42 AM ET
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2013 7:28 AM ET
Related
External Links
(Note:CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
A provincial plan to build a $200 million highway bypass around Chelmsford and Dowling is in its final stages.
After two years of studying a half-dozen options — including adding roundabouts to the current highway — planners favour a bypass that cuts to the south of the existing road.
The province says the planning study of Highway 144 is long-range, meaning even after it's final, it could be decades before pavement is laid down. (Erik White/CBC)Timmins Mayor Tom Laughren said Highway 144 is an important road for his city. Many residents talk about how the province could improve it, but bypassing Chelmsford doesn't usually come up, he said.
What he does hear are issues around "widening … I think any place you could straighten out some of the corners,” Laughren said. “In a lot of instances there's no shoulder."
'Totally unnecessary'
Chelmsford resident Ed Robinson said he sees the project mostly as a waste of money.
"I think it's totally unnecessary, particularly if the government is trying to save money as it claims and is in debt,” he said.
But he also mentioned he has friends who own businesses that depend on Highway 144 to bring them customers.
Robinson said he doesn't think the road is overly congested.
Neither does resident Raymond Castilloux, who added he thinks that could change.
Greater Sudbury area residents recently had the chance to review plans that are in the works to improve Highway 144. Some say the proposed changes are a waste of money and could hurt businesses that line the existing route. (Erik White/CBC)"There's always more traffic and I think it's going to be a good thing if you look 20, 25 years down the road,” Castilloux said.
Jim Loiselle said he won’t miss the stop-and-go traffic through Chelmsford, as he drives to Sudbury from Gogama twice a week.
"It'd be good for the traveler, because you wouldn't have to slow down for traffic and school buses and stuff like that,” he said. “But I don't think it's going to be good for the businesses."
The province said this is a long-range planning study, which means that, even after its final, it could be decades before pavement is laid down.
However, once the route is planned, the province will start buying land.
Corrections and Clarifications
- A quote erroneously attributed to Ed Robinson has been changed to Raymond Castilloux. Jan.24, 7:27 a.m.
Share Tools
Latest Sudbury News Headlines
- Petition looks to rename Victoria Day
- A group that includes some prominent Canadian actors, writers and politicians is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to change the name of Victoria Day. more »
- Meet Ray Novak, the PM's new chief of staff
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new chief of staff is Ray Novak, 35. Here's a quick look at his background. more »
- Hospital's plan for temporary helipad runs into turbulence
- The Sudbury hospital's plans to build a temporary helipad just off Ramsey Lake Road met with unexpected opposition at a public meeting hosted by the hospital and air-ambulance officials Thursday night. more »
- Councillor's ward cited as unhealthiest in Sudbury
- A Sudbury city councillor said Friday he was stunned to learn his ward is one of the most unhealthy areas in Greater Sudbury. more »
Must Watch
Top News Headlines
- NDP wants RCMP inquiry into $90K payment to Duffy
- The NDP has asked the RCMP to launch an investigation into the $90,000 payment from the prime minister's former top aide, Nigel Wright, to Senator Mike Duffy in relation to the Senate expense scandal. more »
- Will alleged Rob Ford video overshadow Toronto casino debate?
- A debate about a proposed downtown casino is supposed to take centre stage at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday, but it seems a safe bet that a still-unseen video of Mayor Rob Ford will continue to be a topic of conversation. more »
- Canadian on EI shut out amid foreign worker influx
- A jobless Canadian IT professional who is collecting employment insurance is upset because he now suspects several recent jobs he applied for went to temporary foreign workers. more »
- Baseball fuels dreams, desperation in Dominican Republic
- The Toronto Blue Jays have a number of stars from the Dominican Republic, but in the shadow of these successful players is an equally important story about hope and poverty, and a country desperately struggling to balance the two. more »

