Hwy. 12 upgrades studied in Orillia

A 10-kilometre stretch of Highway 12 linking Orillia with its rural neighbors is the focus of a project that aims to improve the busy traffic corridor.

A study underway on behalf of Ontario’s transportation ministry will identify potential safety improvements and needed upgrades along the portion of Highway 12 between Memorial Avenue and Horseshoe Valley Road.

“It’s a pretty key corridor,” said Dan Landry, Orillia’s manager of economic development. “It has a big impact on future traffic flow.”

The first of two public information sessions on the study is planned for June 26 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Highwayman Inn in Orillia.

Officials from the transportation ministry and URS Canada, the firm retained to undertake an environmental assessment and preliminary design study, will be on hand to answer questions and hear input.

“There is potential for realignments of intersections or signalization or lane widening,” said Landry. “There is always implications there that they may need more land than they have as far as the right-of-ways.”

The study will additionally explore improvements to interchanges at Highway 12 South/Highway 11 (Old Barrie Road) and Highway 12 North/Highway 11(Coldwater Road).

Those intersections are of particular interest to residents lobbying for improvements that would provide cyclists and pedestrians safe passage across the highway.

“There has been a lot of talk since Lakehead (University) set up in west Orillia that there are some safety concerns, and legitimate ones, I think,” Landry said.

Thursday’s open house will include preliminary findings and design suggestions “on how things might look in the future,” he added.

Residents are encouraged to participate and offer feedback, which would be considered in the design as it evolves, Landry said.

A transportation environmental study report will be made available for public review at the completion of the study.