On Wednesday night, a significant gathering occurred near the Manotick Community Centre, not due to regular reasons. Approximately 200 residents congregated to address the ongoing issue of heavy truck traffic in their community, a matter they believe the City of Ottawa has not adequately resolved. Jeff Cronin, a long-time Manotick resident, expressed the community’s frustration, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
During the meeting, a group named Manotick Concerned Citizens Against Truck Traffic (MCCATT), led by Jim Sproule and Bruce Miller, presented an independent engineering report from January. The report highlighted the daily passage of about 1,000 heavy trucks along Bridge Street and a 350-meter segment of Manotick Main Street. It also outlined the primary factors contributing to the heavy truck traffic and proposed potential solutions.
In February, MCCATT shared these findings with city officials, followed by submitting the complete report to the mayor’s office in August. However, as Miller noted during the presentation, there has been minimal feedback from the city regarding the report’s recommendations.
Sproule emphasized the necessity of diverting truck traffic away from the current route through Manotick, citing an engineering study that deems the current route unsuitable for heavy trucks. He urged the city to act promptly based on the engineering firm’s immediate solution.
Despite the city’s plan to exclude a section of Manotick Main Street from the truck route network for a significant period, residents argue that the proposed changes are inadequate. Concerns were raised about trucks circumventing the designated route by using other roads, leading to continued traffic issues.
Safety remains a paramount concern for residents, particularly due to the truck route passing by seniors’ residences and an elementary school on Bridge Street. Residents stressed the urgency of addressing the situation promptly to prevent potential accidents and disruptions in the community.
MCCATT proposed redirecting heavy truck traffic along River Road to Vimy Bridge temporarily while the city undertakes necessary road network upgrades. The group urged residents to maintain pressure on city officials to implement effective solutions promptly.
The community’s sentiment reflects a growing frustration with the lack of action from politicians. Residents are determined to continue advocating for necessary changes to alleviate the heavy truck traffic issues in Manotick.