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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 16, 2011 · 4 Sunday unday Nov. Nov. 20th 20th Region ov. 1 9th & S Join J oin us us Saturday Nov. 19th Saturday N eyes ways to assist commuters MIX & MINGLE Hot Apple Cider, & Gourmet Food Trucks WEEKEND! WEEKEND! Early Bird Gift Bags, Seminars & Live Music Photos with Santa & Photo Booths By CHRISTINA COMMISSO METROLAND WEST MEDIA With a massive transportation expansion underway, Halton Region is trying to minimize headaches for drivers. Last week, its Planning and Public Works Committee gave the green light to a plan to mitigate gridlock during road reconstruction. "In 2010 during the construction of Derry Road, the traffic on Britannia (Road) was 2.4 times more than in 2011," said Tim Dennis, who heads up transportation services. Five regional roads were approved for accelerated expansion to keep pace with population growth in Halton -- mainly in north Oakville and southwest Milton. The construction, which includes expansions and grade separations, is to begin in 2012 and 2013 and run until 2014-2016. These include: Dundas Street widening from Bronte Road to Proudfoot Trail, CN Rail crossing and Bronte Creek crossing; Tremaine Road widening from Britannia Road to Derry Road and from Main Street to Hwy. 401; Britannia Road widening from Tremaine Road to Ninth Line; Neyagawa Boulevard widening from Dundas Street to Hwy. 407; Regional Road 25 widening from Hwy. 407 to Britannia Road. To mitigate impact on traffic, the Region will review and adjust, if necessary, timed traffic signals; offer online construction activity and detour mapping; and, enhance the use of digital signs to let drivers know of real-time traffic conditions. Part of the communication strategy the Region will use includes updating construction activity on Halton's website, enhancing the use of media releases for information on construction and detour routes and using social media to provide real-time updates and give residents an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the construction. Dennis said the Region is also looking at applying penalties if a contractor fails to re-open base traffic flow during peak hours and permitting weekend and night work. He said the roads will remain at their present width during construction. "If you currently have a two-lane road and we're expanding it to four or six lanes, two lanes will be maintained (throughout construction) to minimize the impact." off all regular priced items Photos with SANTA - SATURDAY: Vaughan 11am, SUNDAY: Waterdown 9am-11am, Burlington 12pm-2pm, Milton 3pm-5pm 20% SAVE SATURDAY SLEIGH STOPPERS $12.99 Decorative Christmas Star Reg. $29.99 Live Cedar Roping (25' ) Reg. $24.99 $14.99 Poinsettia - 6" Reg. 8.99 $4.99 SUNDAY SLEIGH STOPPERS $6.99 $19.99 $14.99 Pillar Candles Plaid Tree Skirt Fresh Boxwood Wreath (3 pack) available in Reg. $39.99 (12" ) Reg. $29.99 4 colours Reg. $12.99 All Sleigh g Stopper pp items and gif g ft bags g are limited quan q tities. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Thurs. - Sun. 9am - 6pm, Mon. - Wed. 9am - 8pm All items while quantities last, subject to availability. Category offers exclude "TERRA Essentials" Sale period: Nov. 17th - 23th www.terragreenhouses.com Burlington Hwy #5 East of Brant St. (905) 332-3222 · Milton Britannia Rd.West ofTrafalgar (905) 876-4000 Waterdown Hwy #6 & 5th Concession E. (905) 689-1999 ·Vaughan Keele St. North of Kirby Sideroad (905) 832-6955