Elgin county staff are expected to deliver a report later this year on a request from Southwold township to transfer Wonderland Road to the county.

Clayton Watters, director of engineering services, told county council Tuesday staff needed time to analyze data before authoring the requested report.

Since the opening of access to Highway 401 from Wonderland Road, requested by the city of London, traffic on the road has jumped from 500 cars per day to about 3,000.

Beyond London’s borders, Wonderland Road continues south to Ron McNeil Line. From there, it’s less than half a kilometre away to the Highway 3 bypass and nearby Talbotville. Across Highway 3, it becomes Ford Road.

The report noted the net result is Wonderland Road is now being used as a shortcut to Highway 401 and London.

The meeting was told the Ministry of Transportation is aware of the traffic issues that have arisen and are working on possible solutions. The ministry did purchase land in the area at the sounth end of Wonderland Road, council heard.

Watters said it won’t be a simple engineering solution involving the county simply assuming ownership of the road.

In its current condition, it needs to be updated for the traffic volumes it is bearing. Watters said it’s estimated traffic on the road now is travelling more than 100 kilometes an hour.

Watters estimated there may be a need for an environmental impact study as part of the process to improve the road.

A brief report for the county indicates Southwold would be willing to accept a transfer from the county of a less-travelled road as part of handing over Wonderland Road.