Quinte West ramp closure frustrating residents

Full interview with Brandy Duhaime, eastern regional communications manager for the Ministry of Transportation

By James Bowler

A hotel manager in Trenton said he is frustrated with the construction and Quinte West ramp closures at the Trent River 401 bridge.

“It’s like a train going on and on and on, who’s driving it, nobody knows,” said Kurien Kodiattu, general manager of the Howard Johnson Inn.

Kodiattu says that while other hotels are conveniently located close by the open ramp in Glen Miller, the Quinte West exit on the other side of the river is his only way of attracting customers.

But with the ramp now closed, Kodiattu said he has to give painful directions to customers who sometimes will stop at the Holiday Inn or Comfort Inn at the next exit rather than try to find his establishment.

“People who come to our place are now finding it absolutely difficult,” said Kodiattu. “Out of frustration they turn around and the first thing they see is Holiday Inn.”

Construction on the bridge began in June of 2008 when it was decided by the provincial government that the 401 at that spot should be 6 lanes wide. The bridge needed to be widened and upgraded to support the extra weight.

Kodiattu said he contacted Trenton Mayor John Williams for help, but at the time Williams didn’t have answers.

“When you talk to the mayor all he can say is ‘You know Kurien you are so right but my hands are tied’,” said Kodiattu.

Williams said that he has recently gotten in touch with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), responsible for hiring the construction company that is currently working on the bridge updates.

“We met with the MTO last week,” said Williams. “The problem was they gave us dates and then they ran into problems and they weren’t telling anyone what was going on.”

Concreate UDI, the company contracted to widen the bridge refused to discuss the matter, and their website states that construction was supposed to be finished in August.

“We got an update on it and indications are it will be open at the end of this month,” said Williams.

But Brandy Duhaime, eastern regional communications manager for the MTO, said the mayor may be a little ambitious as the ramps may not be opened until the end of December. And the possibility of more construction in the spring will see the ramps being closed once again.

Duhaime was not sure what type of construction would be holding up the finish date until next spring.

“I would have to confirm exactly what those things are,” said Duhaime.

While the Howard Johnson Inn and other businesses may have had trouble bringing in revenue due to the closed ramps Duhaime said the government does provide compensation.

“The Ontario government does have a business loss claim process in place,” said Duhaime. “The business owners do have the option to contact the regional office to pursue a business loss claim.”

Meanwhile Kodiattu said he is never able to get in touch with the MTO.

“You call and you know press one, press three, press four,” said Kodiattu. “It’s very difficult to get anyone on the line.”

He said with the decline in customers he is doing all he can to keep his business running, including running a U-Haul depot.

“My objective right now is just to keep my head above the water,” said Kodiattu.

According to Duhaime as long as construction is running without a hitch it should be finished by the end of the year.

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