The Town of Ajax has voted to approve the reopening of a road link between Ashbury Boulevard and Range Road, which had been closed for over a year. This decision was made after a pilot project that temporarily opened the road was completed in fall 2024. The reopening of this road connection was approved by Ajax council following a mayor’s directive on February 17, utilizing the strong-mayor powers of Mayor Shaun Collier.
Currently, Ashbury Boulevard and Range Road are separated by concrete barriers, but with the council’s approval, the road will be reopened. This decision comes after several residents expressed concerns about the lack of an alternative exit point from the south end of Lake Ridge Road. In the past, during incidents such as the January snowstorm, the closure of Lake Ridge Road left residents feeling trapped.
Mayor Collier shared his concerns with the council, noting that if an emergency had occurred during the snowstorm, the closure could have worsened the situation. “I’m glad there wasn’t a fire or an emergency or something because the road was closed — it’s a problem,” Collier stated. The idea of reopening the road had been raised by residents of Range Road and Ontoro Boulevard, who wanted a backup exit for emergencies.
The timing of the council’s decision, however, sparked mixed reactions. Coun. Lisa Bower, who represents the area, expressed her strong opposition to the plan. Bower called for a series of studies before the road link was reopened, including an environmental impact study, traffic impact assessment, road safety audit, wildlife mitigation, and a Greenbelt conformity review. “If we’re going to do this, if this is going to happen, there’s nothing wrong with doing it the right way,” Bower said.
Despite these concerns, Geoff Romanowski, Director of Planning and Development Services, explained that these studies were not necessary because no construction work would be done to the road. “The road exists as it exists today,” he explained, indicating that the project does not violate the Greenbelt Plan because the road’s structure would not be altered.
Mayor Collier stated that the planned work for the reopening would include installing two stop signs, line painting, and moving the concrete barriers. Additionally, a pedestrian crossing would be added, and speed limit signs could be installed. While some members of the council, such as Coun. Joanne Dies and Coun. Nancy Henry, expressed reservations, Collier defended his decision by stating that public demand for the road to be reopened outweighed the opposition.
“I’m doing what’s in the best interest of the majority in my opinion,” Collier said, noting that for every one person who reached out opposing the plan, 10 others had asked for the road to be reopened.
