Hello World! says CSC
MEDIA RELEASE
New community group formed
-- “Common Sense Crossings” to advocate against Greenbelt bridge --
ORLÉANS, ONTARIO, April 7, 2009 — A dedicated grassroots community group has come together under the name “Common Sense Crossings” to oppose a proposed interprovincial bridge being built within the remaining portion of Ottawa’s eastern riverside Greenbelt.
The NCC recently decided to include two additional options for a proposed interprovincial bridge. Both options would have a bridge cross the Ottawa River, travel through the eastern section of the Greenbelt and connect to highway 174 in Orléans, east of the split. When compared to the cost of building a bridge at Kettle Island, these two options would require an additional $18 million and $132 million respectively.
“We want to ensure that everyone is aware of the long-term impacts of building an interprovincial bridge through the Greenbelt,” says Louis Caron, President of Common Sense Crossings. “From increased traffic on the already congested highway 174 to the environmental damage to Green’s Creek and the loss of the eastern section of the Greenbelt, these options simply do not make sense. Taxpayers and Citizens of Ottawa deserve better.”
There are also other non-financial costs. “More than 100,000 residents in Orléans and the surrounding communities will be negatively impacted. In Gatineau, one of the Greenbelt options calls for the expropriation of 79 houses. In addition, the proposed bridge through the Greenbelt will lead to greater urban sprawl and increased commuter traffic from Gatineau on to Highway 174,” adds Mr. Caron.
He points out that commuting time for communities east of the 174/417 split will increase significantly. “Cars and trucks will be idling in traffic gridlock, spewing tons of greenhouse gases into the air we breathe. Considering that these options will impose a significant detour for trucks crossing from Ottawa to Gatineau and back, we very much doubt that either of these two Greenbelt corridors would reduce truck traffic in the downtown core.”
A new interprovincial bridge is needed to ensure transport trucks can be removed from Ottawa’s downtown core; but at what cost? These two proposed options impose significant costs on many Ottawa communities in terms of quality of life, environmental impact, loss of valued recreational land and ongoing commuting difficulties.
For more information:
Louis Caron
President, Common Sense Crossings
Alexa Brewer
Communications, Common Sense Crossings