A road that connects Willoughby's residential areas to the busy Willowbrook shopping district is one step closer to being expanded after 91原创 Township council endorsed a design that includes bike lanes and traffic calming.

The report presented to council on Monday, Dec. 2 looked at fully widening the 202/203 Street corridor, from 62 Avenue in the south to 86 Avenue in the north.

At its south end, the street allows access to the major shopping plazas east of 200 Street in the Willowbrook area, near Walmart and Costco. It travels north up the Willoughby slope, past several schools, including R.E. Mountain Secondary and Peter Ewart Middle, and through mostly-residential areas.

Some sections of the road, including a portion to the north of 80 Avenue, are relatively new and were only recently fully connected. A small stretch between 85 and 86 Avenue has yet to be completed. The road starts as 203 Street at its south end, becomes 202B, 202A, and 202 Street as it winds north.

The plan, which could cost an estimated $38 million, not including land acquisitions, would involve widening the road to four lanes, adding multi-use paths, sidewalks, and street lights.

Right now some sections, in areas of new development, are already built to four-lane standards, while stretches that were rural or low-density suburban roads, including near the high school and middle school, remain at two lanes with simple pedestrian paths or paved shoulders.

The expansion of sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use paths was praised by Councillor Michael Pratt.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e getting towards a pretty well-rounded street topography on this one where everyone will be able to feel safe," Pratt said.

Acting on direction from council, the report also looked at the possibility of installing a roundabout at 202B Street and 70A Avenue, replacing a traffic signal there. Staff recommended against it, because a multi-lane roundabout can be more complex for drivers, are more expensive to build than smaller roundabouts, and can create dangers for pedestrians and other "vulnerable road users."

The plan was approved unanimously, but the project itself has not been funded or approved.

The projected budget is dependent on how much development continues to take place in the near future. If more stretches of the route are developed, it will be less expensive for the Township, as developers will complete some more of the widening.

The route falls in between the 200 and 208 Street corridors. While 200 Street has been a major, multi-lane route for decades, 208 Street is still being fully widened to four lanes now.