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(Posted 6:30
a.m., Feb. 11)
City council approves plans for Orléans roundabout
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
Plans
to build a traffic circle at the intersection of Jeanne d'Arc Blvd. and St. Joseph
Blvd. received the blessing of city council on Wednesday, paving the way for construction
to begin as early as this June. While
the controversial roundabout received the support of a majority of city councillors
including Innes Ward Coun. Rainer Bloess, Orléans Ward Coun. Bob Monette and Cumberland
Ward Coun. Rob Jellett voted against the project citing public oppossition. The
city received $1.8 million from the provincial and federal levels of government
last spring as part of the Infrastructure Stimulus Funding to cover two-thirds
of the cost for streetscape improvements to St. Joseph. The
decision on how to spend the money was left up to the BIA in consultation with
the transportation staff. The BIA unveiled their plans to spend $1.75 million
of the $2.5 million they've been given, on a roundabout. The remaining funds will
be spent on improvements to the intersections at St. Joseph and Orléans Blvd.
and St. Joseph and Place d'Orléans Dr. That money will be topped up by whatever
funds have been set aside in the budget for planned improvements to the intersections. One
group that is happy about city council's stamp of apporoval is the Heart of Orléans
BIA and its executive director Peter Stewart. “This
is great news. Not only will this gateway project give the area more character,
but it will make the street safer,” Stewart said in a press release hailing
the decision “Our 400-plus members have been waiting for a long time for
tangible improvements like these to St. Joseph Blvd. With the added motion put
forward by our local councillors, we can expect to receive more funding in future
years to continue the initiative. (This
story was made possible thanks to thie generous support of our local
business partners.) Return
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