As Previously Posted: January 24, 2011

Oshawa Mayor embarks on road tour to gather support for the delayed Hwy 407 East Extension project
Province urged to honour its commitment to extend the Hwy 407 east to Hwy 35/115 by 2013

At 12 noon today, Oshawa Mayor John Henry will climb aboard a transport truck (donated by The Mackie Group) advocating for the Premier to fulfill the province’s commitment to extend Hwy 407 east to Hwy 35/115 in one continuous phase by 2013.

The “Let’s RAMP it up! Show your support for the Hwy 407 East Extension project” campaign calls for communities to join the City of Oshawa, Durham Region, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes in urging the province to honour its commitment – as originally promised and planned – for the benefit of southern Ontario.

Mayor Henry will visit approximately a dozen municipalities starting with St. Catharines and will continue over the next six weeks to meet with the remaining municipal Councils. He will ask municipal Councils, along with their residents and businesses, to advocate for the construction of the Hwy 407 East Extension in one phase to Hwy 35/115 by 2013 as it will:
• address congestion, quality of life, safety and environmental concerns;
• further economic development, tourism and job creation for all of southern Ontario; and,
• facilitate the important transportation of goods through the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the Quebec/Windsor corridor.

Mayor Henry is urging residents and businesses across southern Ontario to show their support by adding their name to an online petition (www.oshawa.ca/407) or by completing a postage-paid petition postcard available at various locations throughout Durham Region.

Public and political pressure surrounding the Hwy 407 East Extension project has been building since the province unexpectedly announced it was planning to build the extension in two phases – contrary to years of preparation, study and promises for a one-phase extension from Brock Road in Pickering through to Hwy 35/115. Currently, the province plans to stop Hwy 407 at Simcoe Street in Oshawa, which will cost the residents of Durham Region and the City of Oshawa approximately $329 million in unplanned capital road work and ongoing maintenance costs. In addition, this delay, due to the province’s planned two-phased approach, will ultimately mean higher costs for all provincial taxpayers.

For more information, visit www.oshawa.ca/407, e-mail 407@oshawa.ca or follow the campaign on twitter @oshawacity #oshawa #407.

Date & Time:
Monday, January 24, 2011

Photo-Ops:
12:00 pm – Mayor Henry departs on his road tour (Location: The Mackie Group – Oshawa Head Office, 933 Bloor St. W.)

6:00 pm – Mayor Henry arrives at St. Catharines City Hall, 50 Church St., St. Catharines)

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Media Contact:
Mayor John Henry
City of Oshawa
jhenry@oshawa.ca
Cell: 905-447-7533