The widening of Hwy. 3 from Leamington to Essex doesn't look to be in the provincial government's plans any time soon.
A private members' motion from Essex MPP Taras Natyshak was looking to have the work included in the Province's Southern Highway Program for 2015 to 2019. It failed by a 31-28 vote.
"Our community is waiting for it," says Natyshak. "We know it's essential for the transportation of goods and people. We know that it's something that is going to poise us for growth in the future and we also know that there are safety considerations."
Natyshak also thinks the government's plan to resurface part of the highway near Kingsville this summer could be a waste of money.
"Are they going to have to resurface the highway, rip it up just a couple of years later and then double it as was promised?" says Natyshak. "Or are they just kicking this down the road for another generation?"
Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Rick Nicholls doesn't think budget pressures should be an excuse for the government.
"I question how much money would they have had had they not had the scandals? The gas plant scandals, the Air ORNGE scandals, the OPP investigations and the list goes on," says Nicholls.
Hwy. 3 expansion began in 2007, bringing the stretch from Windsor to Essex up to four lanes while the stretch from Essex to Leamington remains at two lanes.
