After decades of lobbying, work to expand a two-lane section of Highway 40 in Sarnia to four lanes appears no closer to beginning any time soon.

Replying this week to a question from Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton, Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca said his ministry is working to complete a planning and environmental assessment study for the two-lane section of the highway between Churchill Line and Highway 402 in Sarnia.

“Once completed, funding for the construction of the four-laning of Highway 40 will be considered along with other provincial priorities,” he added in a written response.

The ministry estimated in 2009 the work would cost $80 million.

“This is the one road in this area that needs a significant upgrade for safety reasons,” said Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley.

“It's time for them to move on it.”

Efforts by community leaders to see the section of highway expanded “goes back at least to the mid-1980s,” Bradley said.

“It really is a frustration because it's got the potential for a catastrophe to happen there, because of the nature of the traffic.”

The northern end of Highway 40 goes from two lanes to four beginning with a section through Chemical Valley in St. Clair Township, but it goes back down to two lanes on a section in Sarnia before expanding to four lanes again close to Highway 402.

In the early 1990s, the government of then Premier Bob Rae planned to build overpasses on the highway at the Wellington and Confederation street intersections.

“And then, that got scrapped,” Bradley said.

He said ministry staff talked about an environmental assessment at a meeting he attended several years ago.

“Personally, I think they're hiding behind it because it has been an excuse for almost a decade,” Bradley said.

“All they need to do is get going.”

McNaughton also asked the ministry about plans for expanding the highway through Chatham-Kent and said he hopes the government will allocate funding for the project when it releases its budget in the next few weeks.

“I'm pleased to continue advocating for expanding the highway to accommodate traffic and future growth,” he said.

McNaughton said the expansion is something he and Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey have both been working on, adding he believes it could help the region's economy.

“Every council I've been involved with has petitioned to have this taken care of, especially that stretch,” Bradley said.

At one point, locally officials asked the province to divide the environmental assessment in two sections to attempt to see some of the work happen sooner, he said.

“My recollection is they said, 'No, it has to be one environmental assessment,'” Bradley said.

There have been safety concerns about the highway over the years, particularly following fatal accidents on the two-lane section that sees heavy use by transport trucks and passenger vehicles.

In the years since lobbying began, the highway has become busier in Sarnia because of increased activity at the Sarnia-Lambton Western Research Park and Lambton College, as well as new development.

Bradley said the heavier traffic, particularly by transport trucks, is something he sees every time he crosses the highway for meetings at the research park.

“I always wait when the light turns, because you cannot feel safe there,” he said.

Bradley said he's happy McNaughton raised the issue again with the current minister.

“There has probably been, without exaggeration, 15 transportation ministers” since the lobbying effort began, he added.

McNaughton also asked Del Duca about the ministry's plans for snow fences and tree planting to improve winter safety on a section of Highway 402 prone to drifting snow.

Del Duca said the ministry planted 2,600 new and replacement trees along the highway last year, and plans to plant another 1,700 this year.

“The ministry has found vegetation to be more effective than fencing to reduce the effects of drifting snow,” he said.

McNaughton said the ministry should use both.

“It does take time for these tree to grow.”

pmorden@postmedia.com