Sarnia's mayor wants to proceed with the oversize load corridor while still seeking senior government funding.
The $12-million project would create a dedicated route from Sarnia-Lambton's metal fabrication shops to Sarnia Harbour and involve significant road and power line modifications.
Mayor Mike Bradley says it's an unprecedented economic opportunity and this is not a time to be timid.
"Half the funding is in place already," says Bradley. "So, why would we sit and wait two years... or three years... for the federal and provincial governments to respond. The business case is there. The community support is widespread in the industrial sector and in the political sector."
It's estimated the long-planned corridor would create as many as 3,000 jobs locally.
"The fact that it would have a significant impact on the secondary industries and strengthen Sarnia Harbour, we should move now. See what we can invest of the money we have -- which is $6-million dollars from the city, county and St. Clair Township -- and do as much upgrading as we possible can, while still pursuing the federal and provincial money," says Bradley.
Bradley thinks support in the project could be rejuvenated with Ontario's new PC government.
He says Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton's new role as Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure could be a huge benefit.
"I think that's a real asset," he says. "Even if it's just talking to his federal counterpart about the priority and how jobs can be created really quickly for a real minimal investment. If you look at the total of $12-million dollars in the scheme of federal and provincial spending, it's very little, but it could have a tremendous payback and strengthen a sector that I think the provincial government will want to strengthen -- which is the industrial base here."
The federal government turned down a funding request for the project this past April, but said there would be an opportunity to reapply.
Lambton County Council has asked staff to prepare a report on the possibility.
