A plan to extend River Road over the expressway and through parts of Hidden Valley to help ease traffic congestion in south Kitchener has been delayed again.
Waterloo Region councillors deferred further discussions on whether to proceed with an environmental assessment of the $58-million plan due to a power outage Tuesday afternoon.
Some delegations were unable to show their presentation, but they continued to voice their concerns about the project.
The region has been studying the possible corridor since 2004, and the project had to be put on hold and then revised in 2007 after endangered Jefferson salamanders were found.
The project involves extending River Road from King Street, over the expressway, through Hidden Valley and all the way to Goodrich Drive and Bleams Road.
However there are serious environmental concerns about the plan.
Steve Van de Keere says "We need to do quite a bit more work on assessing the impacts of the new road on all the wildlife in Hidden Valley."
Opponents of the plan say the region could ease traffic congestion by improving other corridors, despite the fact the current plan is ready for the next stage environmental assessment.
Gordon Nicholls is concerned and says "Unfortunately the 2006 road design almost seems to be cast in stone."
In addition to environmental concerns, there are also financial concerns about the plan, and many are calling for the same solution.
Concerned resident Gordon Nicholls says "We feel, it's very fundamental, there should be a minor modification in the road design down at the Hidden Valley end."
Council will revisit the decision on the environment assessment at next week's meeting, and the region is expected consider various designs for the road in 2012 and construction is slated to start in 2015.
