The founder of a group that wants concrete median barriers on Hwy. 401 from Tilbury to London doesn't think last week's provincial cabinet shuffle will delay the process.
Kathryn McGarry has replaced Steven Del Duca as Minister of Transportation and Alysson Storey believes the new minister will be more sympathetic to the cause because the 401 runs through her Cambridge riding.
The Ministry of Transportation is still trying to decide between cable barriers and concrete barriers to save lives after several fatal crashes on Hwy. 401 in 2017.
Storey says she doesn't feel too bad about the cabinet shuffle.
"You know what, I don't think it's going to delay it. I think it actually may help and I'm cautiously optimistic," says Storey.
She says Cambridge just received $100-million to improve safety on Hwy. 401 and feels McGarry gets the issue. Storey still encourages people to send the minister letters, emails and tweets and call her office to keep up the pressure. She's planning another rally at Queen's Park this spring when the weather warms up.
The "Build The Barrier" group will hold a town hall meeting in London on February 7.
Storey wants the Liberals to match a Conservative promise to build a concrete barrier.
"I think she's a little more familiar with the issue. She's a little more geographically closer to Chatham-Kent and Elgin County and of course Carnage Alley," she says.
Storey hopes the new minister will get up to speed quickly.
"We're not going to let it go, we're actually going to push even harder now. Minister McGarry needs to be brought up to speed and I'm sure her staff is giving her their perspective," says Storey.