CENTRAL MANITOULIN—Central Manitoulin Council has approved a detour of traffic from Tehkummah’s 10th Concession Road onto Townline Road at the behest of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), but only if the MTO ensures the safety of travellers and assumes responsibility.
The detours are required as part of the bridge replacements on Highway 542 at the Blue Jay Creek culverts located approximately 1.2 kilometres, 1.6 kilometres and 1.19 kilometres north of Highway 6. Those culvert replacements, slated for next year, will require a full road closure of Highway 542.
Council agreed to the detours, but placed several caveats on their approval including that the MTO agree that gravel will be placed as needed, the roadway will be graded as needed, proper signage will be installed to ensure safety, calcium is to be applied, that the MTO assumes liability of the road during the detour, that the MTO will determine if the roadway is safe for detour traffic volumes and that the Central Manitoulin municipal road superintendent will be consulted at all times on the stated requirements.
