Scugog council to see an updated report on the Second Access project on December 11th

DAN CEARNS The Standard

SCUGOG: The Township of Scugog is going to be taking the next step on the Second Access for Scugog Island project this month, and is expecting to hear resident feedback on the plan.

“The draft Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Addendum, for the Second Access to Scugog Island, has now been completed,” a Township of Scugog press release stated. “The draft Class EA Addendum report is scheduled to be presented to members of Scugog Council, at the Planning and Community Affairs Committee meeting, on Monday, December 11th, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.”

The press release went on to state, residents could schedule a delegation to speak to council about it.

The project has been in the works for a number of years and is looking to solve the problem of having only one access road to Scugog Island, Island Road. The last time an EA was done, regarding a Second Access, was in 2007.

As of right now, the Township has scheduled construction of the southern portion of the project in 2025 and the northern portion in 2027. The preferred southern connection, in the report, runs from Highway 7A to Head Road and the northern connection runs from Ma Browns Road to Pine Point Road.

The report also explained why this project is important for the Township to undertake.

“The only current access, to and from Scugog Island, is Durham Regional Road 7 (Island Road). This poses a public safety risk for Scugog Island, when Island Road is shut down for emergency reasons, such as accidents. Emergency vehicles, visitors and residents are not able to leave or gain access to the Island while the closure to Island Road is in place.”

Those looking to read the report, ahead of the meeting, can go online, to my.scugog.ca/second-access-to-scugog-island.