Taras Natyshak putting pressure on province to widen Highway 3

Essex MPP Taras Natyshakwill be calling on the provincial governmentto conduct an investigation into the fatal crashes on Highway 3 aftera man on a motorcycle died on May 20.At least three people have died on the same stretch of road within the last year.

• One person dead in seven-vehicle crash on Highway 3

Last spring, Natyshaktried 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.

Here's our conversation with Natyshak after the latest fatality.

You're calling for a formal investigation now. Why?

TarasNatyshak: We have now witnessed another fatal accident, a multi-vehicle fatal accident, within a month of the last one. This is no longer a coincidence. This is a pattern.Thefactis they're happening on the stretch of road that's yet to be completed. These accidents are not happening west of here. It's a single lane highway, it's 80 kilometres an hour.

You've brought forward a petition, a motion. How confident are you that anything is going to happen at this point?

TN: The widening has already been approved. The plan is already in place. What I'm calling for is the government to fulfil their promise to the community. This is something they started in 2006 under my predecessor, Bruce Crozier. Weneeded this expansion, for safety, for commerce, for connectivity to the new Herb Gray parkway and, ultimately, the new bridge. We deserve this. I'm just calling on the government to finish the job they started.

You told me you had a conversation with Steven Del Duca last week, even. But, you're not feeling a lot of confidence from their side.

TN: Every chance I have to speak with the Minister of Transportation, I reiterate our desire to have this project started and completed. He gave me the same old line that we're going to have to be patient, it's not a priority of the government. That's unacceptable.

We have to look at all angles. Perhaps it's not the highway.What if it's the drivers?What do you have to stay to that?

TN: There's no arguing the incidents and volume of accidents we're seeing are happening on the stretch here have yet to be widened. Should we be aware when we're driving? Yes. Butto make the argument that sometimes, people make mistakes and accidents happen, that's never prohibited us from making things safer, making cars safer.

We're always trying to make sure when we travel, it's as safe as possible. The widening of this road will ensure it's as safe as possible, given the volume of traffic and allow for that buffer. If we allow that space for people to avoid, to give themselves enough space, or to pass safely, then I think we can save lives. It's our obligation to do that.