Plans to realign Ashburnham Drive and replace the McFarlane Street Bridge are moving forward after Peterborough council endorsed the preferred design for the major transportation project.
Council supported the recommendations of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and agreed to proceed with posting the Environmental Study Report for a 30-day public review period.
The decision follows a deferral in May, when council directed City staff and the project consultant to meet with the owners of 2560 Trent View Road to discuss potential impacts on their property.
That meeting took place July 15.
The property owners supported the need for transportation improvements and replacement of the bridge but expressed a preference for Alternative D for the McFarlane Street Bridge alignment.
According to the City, further analysis found Alternative D would reduce impacts near 2560 Trent View Road but create greater impacts elsewhere.
Those would include the acquisition of at least two additional residential properties on Old Norwood Road, along with additional grading impacts affecting properties along Old Norwood Road and Naish Drive, as well as Ashburnham Memorial Park.
Following the review, staff maintained their recommendation for the preferred design originally presented to council in May.
The preferred alignment includes several modifications to Ashburnham Drive and its connections with Maniece Avenue, Hunter Street and Old Norwood Road.
The project would also create new connections to existing active transportation infrastructure north and south of the study area.
The Environmental Study Report will now proceed to a 30-day review period as part of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.
