CN closes road in Milton for construction without town’s approval

Tensions are high in the town of Milton after CN Rail closed down part of a public road for construction without the town’s approval.

Milton’s mayor Gordon Krantz said, “They had contacted the town and the appropriate people and we said, ‘no.’ They just went ahead on their own and did it. Just ignored regional laws and town laws and bylaws. They just took it on their own initiative.”

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The road closure on Lower Base Line began on July 4 and stretches between First Line and Tremaine Road. This is part of the Intermodal Hub Project which has been an ongoing court battle between CN Rail, the Town of Milton and Halton region.

The town says permits and by-laws are required for this type of construction and road closure that any resident or developer would have to follow.

In a statement, CN says they received approval from the Canadian Transport Agency in May 2022 and that they have “made continuous attempts at collaborative discussions about the road closure with Halton region, and the Town of Milton, following the May 2022 decision without significant traction.”

Local people in the area say that because of the road closure, they must find alternate ways to get to their destinations.

Regional councillor Sameera Ali says that people reached out to her alarmed that this was happening. They put up signs to reiterate to locals that the closure was not town approved.

Ali said, “it is a disruption but more than that, what is alarming is that CN thinks that it’s above all local and municipal bylaws.”

Halton region said in a statement that this road dispute is part of a much larger concern with the truck-rail hub coming to Milton. They said there are three court hearings to be completed this year challenging CN’s authority to proceed with the project and CN is proceeding at its own risk until the cases have been settled.

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