SARNIA, Ont. -- Preliminary designs were released this week of the proposed expansion of Highway 402 to the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia-Port Huron.
The Ontario Ministry of Transport wants to twin the highway from two lanes to four between Mandaumin Rd and the international bridge.
According to the Sarnia Observer, the blueprint calls for four designated lanes, separated by buffers. Nexus and border-bound car traffic would be designated to the left lane, with pre-cleared FAST-approved trucks in the next lane. Non-FAST commercial vehicles would be beside the, and local car traffic would take the outside, right lane.
A truck queue management system will supposedly meter traffic to the bridge. According to the report, the Ministry of the Environment would monitor daily air quality and could close one of the two truck lanes on "bad air days."
Environmental groups and some local residents showed up at a press conference to voice concerns. They say the additional trucks that travel the route would idle in single file on busy, impacting air quality.
