Sarnia-Lambton Progressive Conservative MPP Bob Bailey's push to improve safety on the Hwy. 402 approach to the Blue Water Bridge is gaining traction.
He wants the former inspection station just west of Camlachie Rd. to be used as a staging area for trucks to pull over and prepare the necessary paperwork before their final approach to the border.
Ontario Transportation Minister Kathryn McGarry has answered his February 22 letter, saying they'll review his suggestion.
Bailey says he's satisfied with the response.
"I appreciate the minister getting back to me, especially with an election coming," says Bailey. "If I'm successful in the coming election, and I hope to be, I'm going to stay on this. If we're given the privilege of forming government, it's something that I intend to push with the new government as well. We have to have safety on any of our highways but it's especially important adjacent to the city and Point Edward."
Bailey also wanted the ministry to explore increased police enforcement in the area.
He notes a fatal crash on Hwy. 401 in 1999 prompted the hiring of 22 new OPP officers to patrol that section of highway, and he'd like to see something similar here.
A two-day safety blitz in August of 2017 resulted in 102 charges, half of which were commercial vehicles.