Kettle Island crossing garners more support

"We don't have a voice," says Rothwell Heights inhabitant Bruce Cappon, explaining that he's concerned area politicians and community associations are not representing the full spectrum of resident opinions by protesting the Kettle Island link and staying mum on the Lower Duck option. "This is such a huge issue. When the politicians aren't there (it makes it difficult). We're the weakest link."

While community associations and elected officials further east have recently stepped up to support the Kettle Island Bridge Now! campaign, Community Action for Reasonable Analyses and Decision – a local coalition of more than a dozen community groups united against the Kettle Island bridge – has mounted an outspoken crusade alongside municipal, provincial and federal politicians. Montfort Hospital also joined the fray earlier this month, voicing their opposition against the link due to concerns about noise, traffic, vibrations, pollution and impeded access.

Cappon, however, points to the political move of representing the more heavily constituent-populated areas surrounding the proposed Kettle Island site over neighbourhoods like Rothwell Heights or Beacon Hill as an attempt to secure election votes.

He also suggests selecting the further-east Lower Duck Island – named by many Kettle Island opponents as the best option – would cause "immense adverse implications" for both the immediate area and residents citywide.

With "the bulk of the commuter traffic" heading west, bringing drivers across to the Lower Duck area – where they would have to travel through numerous residential communities to head back downtown – makes little sense, Cappon continues, inconveniencing many more neighbourhoods than with the Kettle Island link.

And though traffic congestion and backups are common around any bridge, "it would be just a nightmare" in the east end, he says, with drivers likely to take increased shortcuts through residential areas.

Cappon also questions "misinformation" surrounding the usefulness of a ring road and how much impact it would really have on traffic issues. "It's a real red herring," he says, adding that passenger vehicles would likely still take the shortest route downtown and avoid any ring road altogether. "It's not even part of the equation (in the consultants' report)."

An interprovincial link at Lower Duck – without direct access to the highway – would create a massive backlog of traffic down Montreal and Ogilvie roads, through what are primarily residential communities with many schools, echoes Tim Tierney, president of the newly-revived Beacon Hill North Community Association (BHNCA). Infrastructure, the environment and safety would all be impacted by the move, he continues, making Lower Duck "not really a viable option."

This week, the BHNCA launched the "Kettle Makes Sense" awareness campaign to battle the misinformation, propaganda and rumours that have circulated regarding the bridge issue and alert local elected representatives to community concerns, Tierney explains, citing the "sense of disappointment" area residents have felt about political views on the subject.

The group has also created a standing committee to evaluate the impact of the interprovincial crossing recommendations and offer another chance to study the issue, he says.

While "nobody wants (the bridge) in their backyard," professional consultants have selected Kettle Island as the preferred option, Tierney continues, adding that area residents need further resources to clear up any confusion about the debate and ensure their opinions are represented. "The community should have a voice," he says. "It seems the squeaky wheel gets the grease." For more information on the "Kettle Makes Sense" campaign, please visit www.KettleMakesSense.com or the http://www.bhnca.com/ website.