Paul Healy, Chairman of the Sarnia Lambton Industrial Alliance and President of LamSar Industrial Contractors appeals to city council Monday to establish a major trucking corridor through the city to Sarnia Harbour. CATHY DOBSON/ THE OBSERVER/ QMI AGENCY
Industrial leaders received city council’s enthusiastic support Monday for a $3.5-million heavy haul corridor they say could literally be the road to Sarnia’s economic recovery.
A permanent route to truck industrial modules through the city to Sarnia Harbour will put local trades people back to work and attract new investment, Paul Healy told council.
He is president of LamSar Industrial Contractors and chairman of a 35-member industrial group known as the Sarnia-Lambton Industrial Alliance (SLIA).
Too many of Sarnia’s skilled workers have been forced to temporary relocate to western Canada, Healy said.
The unemployment rate for local skilled trades is about 35%.
But small and medium-sized fabricating plants in Sarnia are developing relationships with Alberta’s oil companies and have started manufacturing huge modules, which are considered the “building blocks” of modern industrial complexes.
LamSar, for instance, has already produced and shipped several modules and is currently working on an order of 20 more for the oil sands.
KelGor has also fabricated large modules that were shipped to Detroit and is currently working on another order, Healy said.
Sarnia’s workforce has the skill set that perfectly matches what’s needed, council heard.
The challenge is to establish a permanent transportation corridor that allows the modules to be moved from the fabricating plants in the city’s southeast end to Sarnia Harbour, said Healy.
He asked council to allow city staff from the planning, engineering and economic development departments to work with SLIA on a business plan so it can raise the $3.5 million from upper tier governments.
Council unanimously agreed.
The money is needed to permanently move overhead wires along the route and make road and bridge improvements to support heavy hauling.
Healy said initial talks with the province have been positive.
“If we can put a business plan together that puts people back to work in Southwestern Ontario, why wouldn’t the provincial and federal governments help?” he said, adding that Sarnia Harbour is an ideal shipping location to western and eastern markets.
He said SLIA has studied numerous alternatives for a heavy haul corridor through the city and favours one that follows Churchill Line to Blackwell Road, south on Confederation to Murphy Road and west down Exmouth Street to Sarnia Harbour.
However, portions of the route are in residential and commercial areas that would be impacted.
“This is large equipment that runs at low frequency and the low frequency soundwaves travel farther and we’re driving right by residential areas,” Healy said.
Those impacts will be carefully considered at city hall, said city manager Lloyd Fennell. Public meetings will be held.
“I think in general people will see this as very positive but there are impacts on others,” said Mayor Mike Bradley.
“This represents the kind of collaboration we need,” said Coun. Jon McEachran during council’s discussion. “It makes me very excited. I really believe this can work for our community.”
Healy said that it’s possible a heavy haul corridor can be established and in use within a year.
“I see it as a significant pickup for our economy,” he said. “It allows us to export here and allows more companies to locate here because we have the talent.”
By Cathy Dobson, Sarnia Observer
Monday, May 13, 2013 8:34:23 EDT PM
cathy.dobson@sunmedia.ca