Black Road gets 5 lanes, separate bike path likely

Despite concerns from local cyclists, City Council voted Monday night to rebuild Black Road with five lanes between Trunk Road and McNabb.

As Sault Star editor John Halucha (shown) watched, bike helmet in hand, from the spectators' gallery, councillors also voted to build a separate bicycle path along the Shannon Road right-of-way from McNabb to Trunk, assuming that enough money is left over from this year's capital construction budget.

Council awarded a $2,372,113 contract for the Black Road job to Towland-Hewitson Construction Ltd., subject to approval of provincial funding for the project, and assuming local cyclists don't delay the project by forcing it to a higher-level environmental assessment.

Cyclists sought titanium-clad guarantee

Andre Riopel, president of the Sault Cycling Club, said he still opposes five lanes, but after reviewing consulting reports instead pressured councillors for a titanium-clad guarantee that the Shannon Road path will be built.

He didn't get it.

"We can't give you any guarantee," said Ward 4 Councillor Neil DelBianco. "But we can give you reassurance that we want to make the City bike-friendly."

Other business

Meanwhile, Towland-Hewitson landed two other major contracts on Monday night, as councillors rubber-stamped all other road tenders submitted for their approval. For further information, click here.

Council approved payment of $80 to Joe Lucio to compensate him for the loss of four New Zealand jackrabbits, which were killed by rampaging dogs. For background on that story, click here.

Councillors also agreed to new controls on alcohol sales under special-occasion permits at municipal venues. For details, click here.

Your best source for City Council news

To receive free, real-time E-mail updates of SooToday.com's exclusive coverage of local news, just send an Email with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line to [email protected].

This free service is provided courtesy of the community-minded businesses whose advertisements appear on these pages.