Road widening, ‘urbanization’ project set to begin in north Oshawa

The public has another ten days to let the Region of Durham know what they think of plans to ‘urbanize’ the stretch of Ritson Road in Oshawa from north of Taunton Road to Conlin Road.

The region is in phases three and four of a plan to widen the road to four or five lanes and bring it up to urban standards, a need identified in a transportation master plan approved in 2017.

A Municipal Class Environmental Study is now underway for the project with the preferred solution to address operational deficiencies, road safety and increasing traffic volumes.

The study will review alternative design concepts for the reconstruction and widening of Ritson Road including intersection modifications, to be proposed in coordination with the City of Oshawa’s planned widening of Conlin Road – also in the design stage.

The recommended design for the Ritson Road widening include:

• Reconstruction and widening to 4/5 lanes, with concrete median
• Access restriction at some locations
• Replacement of existing watermain from Taunton Road to Luple Avenue
• Relining of existing sanitary sewer
• Installation of new storm sewers
• Full urbanization of the corridor
• A new multi-use path on the east side and maintaining sidewalk on the west side
• A new signalized intersection at the south entrance of the regional waste management facility
• Upgraded roadway illumination
• Signal upgrades and modifications

A Public Information Centre was held on June 24 at Kedron United Church.

The region will finalize the study findings and prepare the environmental study report following the public comment period. The report will be then made available for 30 days.

Comments can be submitted until July 24 at the project work page at durham.ca/RitsonRoadEA.