June 17, 2009  -  The Ministry of Transport’s French “power point” presentation was dealing with the replacement of streams and swamps when Mary Carroll rose from the audience with what to her was a more pressing concern.

“Where is 104 MacLaren?” she asked in English.

Large maps of the proposed project - which will extend Hwy 5 to bypass the 105 at MacLaren Rd. - hung from the Desjardin Room’s wall with four conspicuous home addresses marked on it. It was becoming clear from the presentation that these homes, Carroll’s among them, wouldn’t survive Hwy 5’s expansion.

Carroll was among a group of about 30 residents who attended the June 17 information session, hosted by the Ministry of Environment’s public relations branch and the Ministry of Transport, with representatives from each on hand.

Upon her interruption, Carroll was reminded that questions would be taken at the end of the presentation. She waited dutifully for her turn at the mike.

When she got her chance, Carroll stated emphatically that she wanted “to hear it in my language” after sitting through the all-French presentation.

“Nice way to find out,” she said, once it was confirmed that the ministry intended to acquire her land.

Jacques Henry and Michel Caron, who represented the Ministry of Transport at the presentation, said that those whose land would be affected had received personal invitations to the meeting. The invitations did not explicitly state that their property was in danger, they said.

The plan calls for the acquisition of four homes - Carroll’s plus three others on Hwy 105 - and 26 lots. Fifteen of the lots are private, nine belong to the municipality and two belong to the NCC.

The extension is in the very early stages of planning - so early, in fact, that when someone asked for an estimated timeline of five or 20 years, no specification could be given.

“We’re not at the stage where the ministry comes to your door and says ‘I want to buy your property,’” said Jocelyn Cloutier, another Ministry of Transport representative.

The plan is the third phase of extensions to Hwy 5. The first, which adds 2.5 kilometres past the current end at Tulip Valley, should be completed by this fall.

The second phase, scheduled to start next year, would extend it another six kilometres to Wakefield.

Cloutier said the third phase is designed to improve road safety and limit traffic on highways 105 and 366.

Mayor Robert Bussiere agreed with the project’s goal, pointing to an especially hazardous downhill stretch of Hwy 105 before the lights at Wakefield’s north end.

“That will be a great improvement,” he said. “It’s also a good thing for gas emissions. Big trucks won’t have to stop at the lights at the bottom of the hill.”

Councillor Lynn Berthiaume said she understands the need for the bypass and thinks residents will agree.

“That corner has been dangerous forever,” she said of the curve north of the police station, toward Alcove.

Both Berthiaume and Bussiere were surprised at the way the land acquisitions were announced though.

“It threw me for a loop,” Berthiaume said. “Normally with expropriations you’re aware well ahead of time.”

The Ministry of Transport’s impact study on the extension is available for viewing at the Ella Matte Library in Masham. Annex three contains the protocol for land acquisitions.

Residents have until July 25 to request a public discussion and evaluation of the project - any person, group, municipality or organization may do so.

The application must be made in writing and sent to:

Office of the Minister

Ministered u Developpement durable, de l’environnement et des Parcs

Edifice Marie-Guyart

675, boulevard Rene-Levesque Est, 30 etage

Quebec, G1R 5V7

The telephone number is 418 521-3911

Tagged as: Hwy 5, wakefield