EA Process
This project is subject to the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act). The EA Act provides the protection, conservation, and management of the environment in the province of Ontario. The purpose of the EA Act is to help protect and conserve Ontario’s environment by requiring that projects subject to the Act follow a planning process leading to environmentally sound decision-making.
The Class EA process is a planning process approved under the provincial EA Act. A Class EA provides a streamlined process that must be followed for projects within a defined class. The purpose of the Class EA process is to ensure that governments and public bodies consider potential environmental effects before an infrastructure project begins. The MTO’s Class EA for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000) is an approved planning process under the EA Act that establishes the appropriate Class EA process to be completed for groups of projects and activities.
This project (G.W.P. 3059-20-00) is following the approved planning process for a Group “A” undertaking under the MTO’s Class EA for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000). As part of the Class EA process for Group “A” projects there are opportunities for public input throughout the study.
The figure below highlights the key steps in the detail design process:
Purpose of the Design and Construction Report (DCR)
A Design and Construction Report (DCR) is prepared per the MTO Class EA to document a project’s final design and construction staging. The proposed works for this project have been split into two separate design packages (referred to as “Early Works” and “Remaining Works”) to clear and commence the construction of the Midblock Bridge and Interchange (i.e., the Early Works), prior to the commencement of work at Wellington Road 34, Concession Road 7 and Maltby Road West (i.e., the Remaining Works). Therefore, two DCRs will be prepared for this project.
DCR #1 was prepared to document the recommended improvements, consultation undertaken, and potential environmental issues and mitigation measures associated with the Design-Build and Group “A” Class EA process for the Early Works scope of the Highway 6/Hanlon Expressway Midblock Interchange project (G.W.P. 3059-20-00). DCR #1 was published for a 30-day public review starting on September 21, 2022. A Notice of Completion for DCR #1 was published in the Turtle Island News and Two Row Times, Guelph Mercury Tribune, Wellington Advertiser, and mailed to those on the project contact list. The Notice of Completion for DCR #1 can be viewed under the Notices section of this website. All interested parties were encouraged to review the project details and provide input on DCR #1. All questions and comments that were received during the review period have since been documented and responded to.
A second DCR (i.e., DCR #2) will be prepared at a later date to document the scope of the Remaining Works.