Beaconsfield sound barrier on hold, residents oppose high cost
The high price tag attached to the construction of a sound barrier along the south side of Highway 20 is being cited as the main reason why Beaconsfield residents oppose the project, according to a survey released Tuesday by the town's mayor and municipal council.
But that doesn't mean the matter has been put to rest. There appears to be some disagreement about why a barrier is needed in the first place.
Settling that fact is important because it establishes whether the municipality would have to pay a portion of the approximately $60 million sound wall.
If the noise pollution is linked to health concerns, the government would have to fund the entire project. But if the barrier is needed solely to block the din of traffic, the town itself would have to contribute 25 per cent.
In Tuesday's statement, Beaconsfield officials said that as late as May 17, the Transport Ministry (MTQ) told them "there were no data regarding health issues in Beaconsfield caused by the highway" and that the project was intended solely to "improve the quality of life for residents."
But the town goes on to say that Montreal Public Health expert Dr. David Kaiser contradicted that assertion in June when he told residents that the health of people "living within 150 metres on both sides of the highway is compromised by the noise."
"Considering the new information and these contradictory positions, I have written twice, in June and July, to the responsible ministers of Transport and Health, François Bonnardel and Christian Dubé, asking them for clarification," Mayor Georges Bourelle said in the press release. "
"We need to know whether there is a health issue for our citizens living close to Highway 20, as stated by Dr. Kaiser."
The Leger survey commissioned by Beaconsfield indicates 64 per cent of Beaconsfield residents disagreed with the project because it would be too expensive. There were concerns taxes would be raised as a result.
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the MTQ said the government intends to work with the city to build the sound wall if the city wants to move forward.
"If the project proceeds, the costs will be shared between the two organizations, with the MTQ paying 75 per cent and the city paying 25 per cent," said spokesperson Louis-André Bertrand, referring to a previous agreement with Beaconsfield.
The town of Beaconsfield said it is waiting for a response to their questions from the Quebec ministers involved before making any decisions concerning the project's future.
The noise barrier project was initially proposed by MTQ and has been in the planning stages for about a decade.
With files from CTV's Matt Grillo.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.