Highway 3 exclusion 'slap in the face,' says NDP's Natyshak

Essex NDP MPP Taras Natyshak is "disappointed, but not surprised" the widening of Highway 3 in Essex is not included in a recent provincial announcement of a series of highway improvement projects in southwestern Ontario.

Ontario is investing more than $2.1 billion in road and bridge construction projects this year.

It announced 10 projects Monday.

The latest announcement from the province will see 10 kilometres of Highway 3 in St. Thomas re-paved.The $4.3 million contract for the re-paving was awarded to Coco Paving.

Ontario is re-paving almost 10 kilometres of Highway 3 from Talbotville to west of Centennial Avenue through St. Thomas. The project will create or sustain approximately 43 direct or indirect construction jobs.

"The fact that they did not identify Highway 3 [in Essex County] is another slap in the face to our community," Natyshak told CBC News. "It seems like they are incapable of making the right decision."

A motorcyclist became the second fatality on Highway 3 in a less than a month on that stretch when he collided with a truck in Kingsville last month.

A woman died in April in a multi-vehicle crash near the Arner Townline in Essex.

Last spring, Natyshak tried to lobby the Liberal government to widen a stretch of the highway from two to four lanes, tabling a petition and motion. His motion was voted down.

In response, the province's Ministry of Transportation said it's "committed to widening the remaining two-lane portion of Highway 3 between Windsor and Leamington to four lanes. However, it is not yet scheduled for construction. The ministry will continue to consider this section for construction as funding becomes available."

"This is a promise dating back to 2006," Natyshak pointed out. "We can't wait any longer. People are dying on that road."

Windsor is hosting the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference Aug. 14-17. The province has confirmed transportation minister Steven Del Duca will be attending. Natyshak told CBC News he's hoping the conference will give local leaders a chance to push for the project.