Trussler Road reconstruction by Highway 7/8 could start 2027

Should there be bike lanes on Trussler Road by Highway 7/8? Should the roadway be wider?

The Region of Waterloo is in the early stages of planning the reconstruction of Trussler between Bleams Road and Yellow Birch Drive, which crosses Highway 7/8 at the Kitchener/Wilmot border.

Public consultation online is now open, with plans set to be finalized by next year and then shovels in the ground by 2027.

Some of the options on the table including making Trussler wider through that stretch, and looking into options for active transportation, such as bike lanes or multi-use pathways.

Andrew Doman, a senior engineer with the Region of Waterloo, told 570 NewsRadio the area has grown significantly over the years, and that growth isn’t slowing down, especially when it comes to subdivisions.

“Patience is a virtue, and it’s definitely appreciated from the community … we are working very hard towards getting these improvements determined, and then we will work diligently to provide these improvements for the community.”

Doman said the goal is to have the improvements done and ready for commuters by 2029, assuming everything goes according to plan.

“There is a wide variety of users that use the corridor for travel, who live near the corridor, we want to hear from everybody.”

He said they are actively in conversation with the province on improvements they’re looking to make around the Trussler interchange, and to time those plans with the region’s goals.

Already, construction has led to lengthy closures of the Trussler ramps at Highway 7/8, construction led by the Ministry of Transportation.