LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO – Smoother rides, scenic routes, and faster commutes are coming to the residents of Leamington and the County of Essex, thanks to the completion of the first phase of the East Side Arterial Road construction. This project includes a new 1.2 kilometre road segment, complete with street lighting, intersection improvements and a new box culvert over Sturgeon Creek. In addition, more than 600 new trees and shrubs were planted.

“The completion of municipal infrastructure projects such as this one demonstrates the importance of the federal Gas Tax Fund to communities across Canada,” said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “The benefits to this community will be evident on a daily basis as they enjoy the new road.”

“This completion of Phase 1 of this new road is an important milestone for the people of Leamington and Essex County,” said Dave Van Kesteren, MP for Chatham-Kent-Essex. “Thanks to funding from the federal Gas Tax Fund, residents and visitors alike will benefit from improved access to Leamington and beautiful Point Pelee National Park.”

“The completion of this project is great news for the residents of Leamington,” said Pat Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex. “By working with our municipal partners, we are helping to create jobs and strengthening communities across the province.” 

"Renewing essential infrastructure is important to our local communities," said Bruce Crozier, MPP for Essex. “This project is another example of how our government is keeping Ontario moving with investments that matter to people in their everyday lives.”

“The federal Gas Tax Fund acknowledges that all orders of government must work together to address the pressing need for infrastructure investment in Ontario,” said Norman Sandberg, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). “The funding is supporting thousands of important infrastructure projects and is critical to job creation, Ontario’s competitiveness and environmental sustainability.”

The project was made possible thanks to $1,978,000 from the federal Gas Tax Fund and $1,118,000 from the Provincial Government through the Investing in Ontario Act. The federal Gas Tax Fund provides municipalities with a stable and predictable source of funding to invest in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. Funding is also available for planning projects that contribute to the development of communities and regions.

Under the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is allocating $12 billion to infrastructure projects across the country. This is further complemented by a previous commitment of making the federal Gas Tax Fund permanent at $2 billion nationally as of 2014.
Through the Investing in Ontario Act, 2008, the provincial government has provided Ontario municipalities with $1.1 billion in additional funding, including $2.2 million to the town of Leamington, to support infrastructure investments. The act, which was passed in May 2008, allowed the government to use a portion of any unanticipated year-end surplus to address priority public needs as well as reduce the province's accumulated deficit.
Upon its completion the East Side Arterial Road will provide regional connectivity between County Roads and support the intent of the Windsor-Essex Transportation Master Plan. The County of Essex has committed up to $3.2 million in funding for this initiative.