Notice of study completion: Burleigh Hill Drive (Regional Road 56) Environmental Assessment

​Burleigh Hill Drive (Regional Road 56) is the only Regional road crossing the Niagara Escarpment in the area between Highway 406 and the Welland Canal. It's an important link between St. Catharines and Thorold. The study area includes the intersections at Glendale Avenue (Regional Road 89) and St. David’s Road (Regional Road 71).

 

The issues on this road include inadequate active transportation facilities and speeding concerns. There are also issues with poor stormwater drainage and worsening pavement conditions.

 

Niagara Region has completed a Schedule ‘B’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the reconstruction of Burleigh Hill Drive. The study is to address these issues and improve conditions for all modes of transportation.

 

This study evaluated the need to keep the existing truck climbing lane, improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities, improve stormwater drainage and adopt a complete streets approach.

 

 

 

Visit the Burleigh Hill Drive (Regional Road 56) Environmental Assessment project page to read the report and appendices.

 

 

During the review period, interested persons may provide written comments to the following contacts:

 

Mohammad Halakoo, Ph.D.

Project Manager, Transportation Planning

Niagara Region

905-980-6000 ext. 3757

mohammad.halakoo@niagararegion.ca

 

Jeffrey Suggett, M. Sc.

Senior Project Manager, Transportation

CIMA+

905-380-3601

jeffrey.suggett@cima.ca

 

The Project File Report includes all comments received during the Environmental Assessment process. These comments were considered in the decision-making.

 

The Region will work with the public, Indigenous communities and government agencies to decide how best to address these comments.

 

 

Under Section 16 of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, a request can be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. The request asks the Minister to set conditions of approval or require a higher level of study. This is only if the order can help prevent, reduce or fix adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests for other reasons will not be considered.

 

Requests should specify what conditions the requestor is seeking or how an elevated level of study may prevent, mitigate or fix potential impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights. Any other supporting information should also be included.

 

The request should be sent by Sept. 25, 2025 in writing or by email to both of the following contacts and the project managers:

 

Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

777 Bay St., 5th Floor

Toronto, Ontario

M7A 2J3

minister.mecp@ontario.ca

 

Director, Environmental Assessment Branch

Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

135 St. Clair Ave. W, 1st Floor

Toronto, Ontario

M4V 1P5

eabdirector@ontario.ca

 

If no Section 16 Order Requests are received within the public review period, or subject to the resolution of any Section 16 Order Requests, the study will be considered approved.

 

Personal information collected or submitted in writing at public meetings will be used and shared by members of Regional Council and staff under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Written submissions, including names, contact information and meeting reports, will be made available.

For questions about privacy, contact the Privacy Office at 905-980-6000 ext. 3779 or FOI@niagararegion.ca.

 

If you need any accommodations for a disability to attend and participate in meetings or events, let us know in advance so that arrangements can be made in a timely manner.

Contact the Accessibility Advisory Coordinator at 905-980-6000 ext. 3252 or accessibility@niagararegion.ca.