Windsor's mayor wants to see the city's roads greatly improved if he is given a second term.
Drew Dilkens laid out the roads and infrastructure plank of his re-election platform Friday afternoon at his campaign headquarters. The centrepiece of that plan is a makeover of the city's busiest east-west artery.
The mayor said, if re-elected, he would oversee improvements to the E.C. Row Expressway to create a thoroughfare similar to the Herb Gray Parkway, with improved on-ramps and off-ramps. Dilkens said E.C. Row must be upgraded to meet the demands of a city that has grown in population by 26,000 between the time of its completion in 1983 and now.
"This roadway has not seen any improvements or adapted to the increase in usage," said Dilkens, adding that E.C. Row is used by about 75,000 vehicles each weekday.
The city has been spending plenty on roads and infrastructure since 2014, when Dilkens' first term began, and he said drivers are seeing the results of that work now more than ever.
"We have spent $213 million on our roads," said Dilkens. "This year we will spend $42 million alone. This is the type of investment that our residents deserve and expect from our city."
In addition to the E.C. Row upgrade, the mayor singled out nine other projects that the city has already priced out. Among the projects Dilkens said would become a priority if he gets another term is a full reconstruction of Cabana Rd. from Walker Rd. to the Herb Gray Parkway to encompass four lanes, with improved turning lanes and intersections. He also would like to see an upgrade of Banwell Rd. from the E.C. Row to Tecumseh Road East that would include the elimination of a signalled intersection. This project would set the stage for an underpass at Banwell and E.C. Row.
On the heels of a major announcement Friday concerning the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Dilkens said he would also prioritize a complete repaving of Sandwich Street from Rosedale to Ojibway Parkway, as well as improved access to cyclists.
Dilkens also took a swipe at his main election opponent. He said Matt Marchand, while in previous positions, advocated for infrastructure proposals that Dilkens believes would have been devastating for the city, namely a plan to allow commercial truck traffic to primarily use the E.C. Row, a plan that was examined and rejected by city council.
"When I was a councillor, I fought for the residents of my ward and my city. I wanted a better solution, and we fought and got the Herb Gray Parkway," said Dilkens. "We had to fight like heck for that, we stood together as a community, and we won."
In addition to Marchand, Dilkens is also running for re-election against challengers Tom Hensel, Ernie (The Baconman) Lamont and Frank Dyck.
