Lucknow Chamber of Commerce upset that county road realignment has resurfaced

Members of the Lucknow and District Chamber of Commerce are upset that a proposal has been brought forward again for the realignment of Bruce County Road 1 through the Village of Lucknow.

A letter from the chamber to Huron-Kinloss council, written Jan. 21 and discussed at the committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday morning (Feb. 6), states the group is concerned that the plan has resurfaced, as outlined in the media, at a council meeting Jan. 9.

At that meeting, county engineer Brian Knox explained the plan calls for a curved roadway built to the east of the old grocery store. County Road 1 would veer from the north onto that curve, cross Campbell Street (Bruce County Road 86) and link to County Road 1 to the south, creating a proper intersection instead of the current "jog" in the road. The cost is estimated at $1.5-million. However, the project is still at a very preliminary stage.

The chamber letter, written by president Keith Raymond and past-president Morten Jakobsen, states that the project was presented to the Village of Lucknow and the chamber three years ago. Several people from the community and both the revitalization and chamber groups were involved in the talks at that time.

"It is our clear understanding that at that point, the whole idea was put to rest for several reasons," states the letter, "one of them being that it would kill the parking for the grocery store. Being that the grocery store is currently closed, it seems that the county is 'eyeing' the opportunity to reopen this whole thing without taking into consideration the consequence on
the community."

The letter states that the chamber is working hard to get the grocery store open again but this county road alignment plan would kill any potential interest from investors/businesses to consider starting up, knowing that this could be on the agenda.

"We quite honestly find this approach by Bruce County disturbing, having had public hearings and meeting with the county in the past and coming to the conclusion that the realignment of County Road 1 was not to be done, and instead moving ahead with the resurfacing of the main street and installing a crosswalk with lights at the Inglis Street intersection. We would appreciate meeting with council to discuss this further at the earliest convenience."

Council was told that the chamber does not want to attend a meeting with the township now. However, it wanted its objections on the record.