(The following story by Joe Belanger appeared on the London Free Press website on March 4.)
LONDON, Ont. — CN rail will match London dollar-for-dollar to build an $11.5-million overpass at Hale and Trafalgar streets. City council received the news yesterday during its capital budget deliberations, prompting it to approve more than $2 million in funding this year.
Although the proposed funding must still be given final approval by council, it appears the project is likely to go ahead this year with the first phase of design and property acquisition.
“I feel great,” said Coun. Roger Caranci, who has pushed for the overpass for several years.
“And it’s great for the people in the area who’ve had this uncertainty hanging over their heads for years. But there’s still some uncertainty until it gets through the whole council.”
City engineer Peter Steblin advised council CN agreed to provide $1.25 million this year for design plans and land acquisition.
As well, Steblin said CN is committed to matching the city dollar-for-dollar on the rest of the project, though no amount has yet been set because the federal government hasn’t committed any funding.
Steblin has said Ottawa has indicated support for the project, but is likely prepared only to sign an agreement in principle to provide funding.
The province has set aside about $2 million and negotiations continue for more.
Area residents have long complained about bottlenecks from backed-up traffic at the tracks — as well as about safety issues.
The problem with railway systems in the city was highlighted by a death at the Hale and Trafalgar crossing and a series of Free Press stories.
Not everyone on council supports the overpass.
Coun. Joni Baechler has been a vocal opponent, suggesting the city should invest its money elsewhere.
“It’s a waste of taxpayer’s dollars,” she said last night.
“It seems to me the main reason we want to build the overpass is for CN rather than to relieve congestion on an arterial road. My suggestion to alleviate the problem is to close off those roads. It costs minimal money and it’s a better use of tax dollars.”
Some experts suggested a better place for an overpass would be on Adelaide Street’s CPR crossing.
Steblin is proposing the project be built in two phases: design and land acquisition, followed by construction.