by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Whitewater Region Township council wants Hwy. 417 four-laned, but doesn’t want Cobden left out in the cold.
It discussed a motion from the Town of Petawawa that alluded the four-laning of Hwy. 417 should begin from the westerly border of the county and move towards the easterly border, hopefully meeting up with easterly construction at Cobden.
Councillor Charlene Jackson was fearful if Petawawa was pushing for four-laning to North Bay and it stopped the construction from Renfrew to the west, then many accidents would occur on the two-lanes in or near Cobden.
“I agree with Charlene,” noted Councillor Daryl McLaughlin. “I’m not in favour of this motion. If it goes north, we’ll be stuck in the middle.”
Mayor Hal Johnson wasn’t sure what Petawawa’s motion was except to continue with the expansion of Highway 417. He agreed with supporting it, but noting that it continue from where it is and continue west.
“It has to go from where it is now to the west corridor,” he stated.
Councillor Chris Olmstead looked at it from another point of view.
“How many residents of Whitewater commute to Pembroke, Petawawa, Chalk River, Deep River,” he questioned. “I know personally of at least 50 people that actually commute from Whitewater.”
They meet at Cobden’s park and ride and travel together to Chalk River and Deep River every day, he said. Those people would benefit, he said.
It may be more desirable to finish up to the east because people go to Ottawa, but it’s important to understand how many people would benefit from an expansion to Pembroke/Petawawa.
“We’re not thinking of those people who commute to AECL or the military base, which are rapidly expanding,” Coun. Olmstead said.
Councillor Cathy Regier said many of those people travelling from Beachburg and Westmeath towards the Pembroke and Petawawa areas never even get near Hwy. 417.
“I think we have to look at this end first,” she said. “The pot is only so deep, there’s only so much money to go around. There has been enough of a struggle and enough support thrown behind trying to get it from Arnprior up and that’s where I think we should be supporting.”
Chief executive officer Christine FitzSimons said council could defeat Petawawa’s motion.
She could then draft a motion for the Jan. 21 council meeting which reflects this council’s feelings. And, to go one step further, she noted this new motion, if pased by council, could be used if council gets a meeting with the Minister of Transportation at an upcoming municipal provincial conference.
Coun. McLaughlin is fearful if council supports Petawawa’s motion, it could stop the expansion coming from Arnprior.
“Am I correct in my assumption,” he questioned Ms. FitzSimons. “If they go ahead here and start to work on this piece (from the west) they are not going to move the piece from Arnprior towards Renfrew. They are going to take the money and start in Petawawa. Am I wrong in my thoughts?”
She responded, “I would never want to predict what a politician might do,” bringing laughter from those in the chambers. She did add, “There’s no reason to doubt what you are saying.”
Coun. Jackson said it’s important to push straight to North Bay and not stop in between.
“I think we need to make sure we are supporting the whole way, but to continue with what has been started already and go right up through North Bay, don’t stop at Cobden, just keep going,” she said.
Mayor Johnson noted all the studies have been completed from Ottawa through to Mattawa and if construction began jumping sections, he believes some of those studies may have to be re-done because the time frame would be moved up.
“I think the ministry’s intentions of contracts being let is now already set in steel to do it from Arnprior ahead through,” he said.
There is only one bridge obstacle from where the construction is now through to Petawawa, he said. The big expense of bridges has been passed, he added.
“If we can keep them going, we’ll be in Petawawa sooner than later,” Mayor Johnson said.
He drives every day to Petawawa and the traffic is unbelievable from Cobden through, but there’s also huge traffic going in the other direction, he added.
The mover and seconder of the motion withdrew their support and council agreed to review the motion Ms. FitzSimons will draft for its consideration at the Jan. 21 meeting.
