What is the purpose of this Study?

This Detail Design and Class EA Study involves the conversion of the Highway 138 / Headline Road intersection to a single-lane roundabout (County Road 44), in the Township of South Stormont, within the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. The proposed roundabout is planned to calm traffic to reduced speeds and decrease the potential and severity of collisions. A roundabout will also allow for improved traffic operations, including shorter travel times and reduced vehicle queue lengths. The purpose of the Class EA Study is to identify a Recommended Plan for improvements as part of the Ministry’s ongoing review of safety and operational needs for the provincial highway network.

What is the Study Area?

The project is located in the Township of South Stormont, within the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. Please see key map of the Study Area below.

How does the environmental assessment process work?

This Study will follow the approved planning process for a Group B Project under the MTO Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000), an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

During the Study, a Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held to provide interested parties with the opportunity to discuss the Study and provide input to the Project Team. The MTO identified a preferred alternative which includes a roundabout at the Highway 138 and Headline Road intersection based on the preliminary design, which will be presented at the PIC and feedback requested for consideration by the Project Team.

At the end of the Study, a Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be placed on the Public Record for a minimum comment period of 30 calendar days to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to review and comment on the document.

How will the public be involved during the Study?

To make sure that all interested Indigenous Community members and the general public are contacted, an extensive notification process will include announcements in newspapers and letters to agencies, stakeholders, First Nations and property owners. The public will be invited to attend one Public Information Centre (PIC). The PIC will be held in summer/fall 2023 to display and seek input on the Recommended Plan for the Highway 138 / Headline Road roundabout.

Invitations to the PIC will be broadly advertised in local newspapers. In addition, this project website has been developed to enable interested Indigenous Community members and the general public to submit their comments via the website. This website will provide general project information, updates and notices of upcoming meetings and milestones and will also host all project reports. The project mailing list will be updated throughout the Class Study.

What is the purpose of the Public Information Centre (PIC)?

The purpose of the PIC is to present and receive input on the Recommended Plan for the Highway 138 / Headline Road roundabout including the existing natural, social, economic, cultural and technical conditions within the Study Area. In addition, the anticipated (or predicted) impacts associated with the proposed intersection improvements along with the prescribed mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce these impacts will be presented and feedback requested for consideration by the Project Team.

Will access to private property be required during the Study?

Morrison Hershfield and its sub-consultants will require access to some private properties to undertake field investigation work in support of the Study. In these locations, permission to enter will be requested from the property owners. The Ministry's staff, consultant, or sub-consultants will not enter private property without prior consent from the property owner.

Will there be any property impacts?

According to the 2017 Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR), four prospective property takings are anticipated. Property impacts will be confirmed as Detail Design progresses and documented in the Design and Construction Report (DCR), which will be released to the public for comment.

What is the Study timeline?

The Class EA Study is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2022. A high-level summary of the planned points of contact are provided below, noting that the dates will be updated / refined as the Study progresses.

• Notice of Study Commencement (November 2021)
• Notice of Online Public Information Centre (PIC) (summer/fall 2023)
• Notice of Study Completion (Fall 2023). At this time, the Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be released and made available for public / agency comment.

Will external government agencies be contacted during the Study?

Yes, the Project Team has and will continue to contact various external government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries (MHSTCI), Raisin River Conservation Authority (RRCA), among others throughout the Study.

How are comments incorporated into the Study?

All comments received during the Study are documented and reviewed for inclusion into the Study, as applicable. Stakeholder input is important to identify issues relevant to community members familiar with the Study Area (e.g., Indigenous Community members, residents, property owners, businesses) and could provide additional insight into the Study. Feedback received enables the Project Team to understand community concerns and/or interests, and to include in the Study, as appropriate.

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act R.S.O., 1990, c.F.31. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

When is Construction proposed?

Following completion of the Detail Design, a Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be placed on the Public Record for a minimum comment period of 30 calendar days to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to review and comment on the document. Completion of the 30-day comment period is anticipated in Fall 2023. After this time, pending the availability of funding, and selection of a preferred Contractor, the Ministry can proceed to construction which is anticipated to commence in 2024.