City of Burlington council has given its stamp of approval to the latest developments in the plans for Kerns, King and Waterdown roads.

The roads have been slated for design changes as anticipated growth in Waterdown is expected to congest north-south routes with commuters traveling to and from Hwy. 403. Council approved phases 3 and 4 of the Waterdown Road project.

The proposed plan for Waterdown Road is widening it from two lanes to four between North Service and Mountain Brow roads. It will start off as a three-lane design on a four-lane base until a four-lane configuration is warranted.

The plan could affect between 40 and 50 homes, according to city staff. The majority of homeowners along the stretch of road will lose frontage along their property, while two homeowners, and a possible third, will have their properties expropriated.

A public meeting is slated for Wednesday, March 10 to give homeowners a chance to see how the plan will affect their properties. The meeting will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. at Aldershot Pool, community room, 50  Fairwood  Place Burlington is working with the City of Hamilton to hammer out the details of cost- sharing on the $14.09-million project, with Hamilton expected to chip in $13.38 million.

Council also gave the go-ahead to the recommended rehabilitation of King Road, which will stay in its current two-lane form.

A five-metre portion of the road where it crosses the escarpment will be widened. This will require some drilling into the escarpment rock face.

A special mitigation measure developed in co-operation with two environmental agencies is to close the road for up to one week each spring to allow for the endangered Jefferson Salamander, which calls King Road home, to migrate safely to their breeding ponds.

Burlington council also approved a one-way restriction on Kerns Road at the top of the escarpment for implementation this year.

This will restrict southbound cut-through traffic from Dundas Street, Waterdown south areas and the proposed new park.

Northbound access to Dundas Street and new city park will be maintained for Tyandaga-area residents.

Kerns Road, which has experienced a significant increase in commuter traffic, particularly in the morning, will have limited access. Currently, 63 per cent of morning peak traffic on the road travels southbound.

The one-way restriction, priced at $75,000,  will be implemented in 2010.

The restriction is expected to make Kerns Road safer, which was a concern for delegate Leslie Fredo, a retired Halton police officer who worked in the Tyandaga area.  She recently undertook her own study of local traffic violations.

“In 2009, Halton Police issued 233 tickets on Kerns Road,” said Fredo. “There’s a significant problem on Kerns Road in terms of safety issues. You’ve got the hill, stop signs, speeding and the statistics to back it up.”

The one-lane restriction allows access for emergency vehicles, which was an important aspect for resident Bob Rideout. “A one-way conversion maintains emergency route options; it is supported by the Burlington Fire Department, the Halton EMS, and Burlington roads and parks maintenance department; it addresses current and future cut-through traffic issues; it mitigates downhill speeding,“ he said.

There also will be turn restrictions to the new city park, slated to open in 2011. This will include islands on Kerns Road.

The cost will be $100,000 and the changes will be completed in 2011.