HUNTSVILLE — Set your alarms.
Downtown traffic restrictions during the G8 Summit start at 7 a.m. sharp on Wednesday, June 23.
Integrated Security Unit officials told Huntsville council Monday night that residents can expect 40 officers directing traffic at 12 points downtown.
Officers there will be ready to move in a moment to redirect traffic or close roads if Huntsville’s core becomes too congested.
That’s in addition to checkpoints set up at various access points on Highway 60 to filter through accredited residents.
“It’s to monitor traffic and redirect it,” said Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Steve Grosjean, a traffic management co-ordinator for the Integrated Security Unit, of the traffic-directing officers.
“It if becomes an issue and traffic is not moving at these points they will redirect traffic around routes.”
Part of a downtown core traffic plan to prevent gridlock on local, district and provincial roads, the outline also sets up a plan for protestors who can chose to protest in a designated speech area, recently announced to be off Golf Course Road (see related story, A1).
Security planners are preparing for as many as 75 buses full of demonstrators expected to roll into Huntsville.
After dropping off protesters, buses will be parked in one of two areas in Huntsville, one on Muskoka Road 3 about a kilometre east of the protest site, and another in the west end at Rock Ridge.
Cars can also park there, officials told council.
While they aren’t discouraging cottagers and tourists from visiting Huntsville that week, Sgt. Jim Briggs told reporters outside council chambers if people can take an alternate route or don’t need to be in town “that would be a good idea.”
Several portable Ministry of Transportation signs will be set up at locations around the region communicating messages to drivers based on the traffic situations.
They will warn drivers, for example, that Highway 60 is restricted and to expect delays or heavy congestion.
At the meeting, security unit officials reiterated plans for alternate routes. There are restrictions along Highway 60.
Traffic that doesn’t have to go through town will be diverted along certain routes such as Highways 11, 118 and 35, while there will be shorter detours for local residents, and local trucks and deliveries.
Williamsport and Harp Lake roads will be restricted to local traffic only.
Emergency officials will have access to all the routes, if needed, said officials.
They would not release details on how much security will be on duty during the summit.