Funding to support an engineering study for the oversized load corridor project is up for consideration Monday. City Council is being asked to refer $200,000 from the Sarnia Harbour Reserve to the 2017 budget process. The funding commitment is subject to councils consideration and approval of the business plan and securing senior government funding. Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says the project continues to move forward and there has been a lot of support from local industry and senior government. "There's been discussions with the Federal and Provincial governments, the city is very actively involved, there's the association formed to work on this heavy haul corridor," says Bradley. "It has significant costs and we would be part of that, but the major costs and funding would come from the Federal and Provincial governments." Completion of the engineering study, along with a business case study, is believed to give local municipalities the information and support needed to apply for funding required for infrastructure improvements.
Modifications to existing roads including widening, and eliminating power lines, is estimated to cost $3.6-million. The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership and Sarnia-Lambton Industrial Alliance are spearheading the effort, hoped to have a huge benefit to local industry; including the oil and gas, bio-chemical, mining, bio-fuel, agriculture, shipping and manufacturing sectors.
