A service road along the west side of the Welland Canal could be used to evacuate Dain City residents in the event of a major emergency, says Welland Fire and Emergency Services Chief Brian Kennedy.

Kennedy said the city and St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. are still working on an agreement for use of the road, which runs from Humberstone Road to the southern tip of Dain City.

Residents heard about the agreement during a public meeting on the demolition of Forks Road Bridge earlier this year at Carrie Lynn Pinard Centre.

Since that time, residents have wondered when an agreement would be in place and when an emergency training run would be carried out on the gravel service road.

"I understand residents' frustration but we're working diligently with our partners at the Seaway to ensure the agreement is satisfactory," Kennedy said Thursday.

Ever since the Forks Road Bridge was declared unsafe to all traffic and closed in late 2018, Dain City residents have expressed concerns over safety with only one road in and out of Welland's southernmost community.

They're worried a train derailment on Canal Bank Street or major accident at Canal Bank Street and Townline Tunnel Road would leave them isolated.

"The gates to the road will be locked but will be open for emergency response should Canal Bank be blocked by an MVC (motor vehicle collision) or rail emergency," said Kennedy.

If a major crash were to take place at Canal Bank and Townline that required the intersection to be closed for an investigation, Kennedy said it's possible the canal service road could be open for use by residents for a short time as needed.

He said it will be available as an emergency route for residents from the tip of Dain City through to Humberstone Road if a major incident takes place and an evacuation of the area is necessary.

As for the fire service using the road, the chief said that would happen if St. Catharines dispatch notified responding trucks that Canal Bank was blocked.

"The on-duty officer would let myself or the deputy chief (Adam Eckhart) and the Seaway operations centre know they were accessing the property."

There are two gates the fire service and other emergency services would access off Humberstone Road and one gate at the end of Forks Road. The gates would then be locked once the emergency response was over.

Kennedy said the road will be maintained like any other road in Welland and will be plowed in the winter.

The chief said it's not paved but emergency vehicles should be able to drive it at a normal speed.

"There's a dip near the tunnel that the city will look at filling."

Kennedy said the section of the road south to the tip of Dain City from Forks Road has some "washboard" parts and was a bit soft in the spring.

"But this time of year and when the ground is frozen, there should be no issues."

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The chief said when the agreement is finalized, he'll hold a road drill with Niagara Regional Police and Niagara Emergency Medical Services paramedics.

Nathaniel.Johnson@niagaradailies.com

905-684-7251 | @DaveJTheTrib