January 23, 2025

HWY. 118 BARRIER WILL DRIVE McD BUSINESS TO HORTONS, ARGUES BRACEBRIDGE OWNER

BRACEBRIDGE — Right in, right out. Left in left out.

It seems some hungry drivers and business owners could be unhappy with a district move to allow barriers along Hwy. 118 in front of McDonald’s.

Safety concerns, say staff, are at the heart of proposed changes along the road designed as a provincial class A highway in the west end of Ball’s Flats in Bracebridge.

District of Muskoka engineering and public works committee members passed a motion yesterday morning to reconsider restricting some east and west drivers from entering and exiting businesses on both road sides along the busy stretch.

Notably affecting McDonald’s and Canadian Tire.

Changes that were to take effect in two weeks along the almost half kilometre described as being five lanes wide including turning lanes.

“There’s a reason we have the Golden Arches,’ said McDonald’s owner Scott Simini, he told district councillors yesterday while arguing against barriers on Hwy. 118 he said would harm his Bracebridge business. Photos Mark Clairmont

The committee’s decision is still subject to a later full district council consideration and confirmation by vote.

But after much discussion and deliberation Wednesday, the matter should finally be decided following next month’s EPW meeting — pending any addition comments before then from Bracebridge council and its public works, which voiced no concerns.

Likely in February followed weeks later by any barriers — “once frost is out of the roads,” said Misko.

Scott Simini, the new McDonald’s franchise owner for six months now, told councillors he was “blown away” by the plan.

He said barriers will severely impact his business, which he says survives on 70 per cent of its customers who use the drive-thru and who also spend 25 per cent more per order than walk-in customers.

He fears drivers will opt for Tim Hortons up the road if they can’t turn left heading in to Bracebridge from Port Carling.

“It will draw business away to our competition.”

**Simini said many of his drive-thru customers, who comprise 70 per cent of his business, head back up the hill and in some cases have to cross in to a fifth lane especially if turning south.**

His other concern is customers turning left onto Hwy. 118 after leaving the McDonald’s drive-thru window and who mostly head back up the hill into town.

He said barriers will “deter business from coming in. There’s a reason we have the ‘Golden Arches.’”

He said the same problem applies to the neighbouring CTC gas bar, LCBO, Home Hardware and other plaza businesses.

Speed along the strip is also a concern for both the district and Simini, who said there is “no accountability for speed.”

**Looking east traffic, Simini is concerned drivers would head to Hortons rather than turn left at Ball’s Drive and find the back entrance to his fast food restaurant.**

And that taking away a couple McD pick-up order parking spots to allow for a west-bound acceleration lane wouldn’t work for him either.

Across the road the Canadian Tire owner doesn’t appear to care and is OK with its delivery trucks and its customers using the traffic lights at Food Basics, said district EPW commissioner Mark Misko.

He argued what’s an extra “minute?” for Mc-Drivers to detour up around onto Ball’s Drive and enter/exit from the rears of the businesses.

But it was Muskoka Lakes Mayor Peter Kelley who was one of two committee members who called that “risky,” with the number of residences and the Monsignor O’Leary Catholic elementary school adjacent.

They argued the road wasn’t designed to accommodate the extra traffic that might then use the street.

**Traffic lights at the intersection where Food Basics is located would allow drivers to enter the businesses from the rear parking lot.**

Traffic lights each just a block east and west of McDonald’s on Hwy. 118 are available for traffic to turn around in parking lots to reach affected businesses including on the south side.

Misko mention a traffic study showed an extra 43 vehicles per hour on the road and the number 1,000 was mentioned weekdays, which sounds rather high.

Both staff and council committee members agreed that changing drivers’ habits could/will be difficult to change.

But with signage and time, Misko expects motorists will become accustomed to the barrier and changes.

District Chair Jeff Lehman, for one, wants the matter resolved sooner than later due to ongoing safety concerns — which have been happening for decades.

By that he said a month should be long enough to receive comment and decide to proceed.

Unspoken were concerns about drivers with bad habits who may be a problem.

Lehman thought that of some accidents that have happened two may have been fatal.

**The barriers would also affect westbound traffic turning left in to the plaza where the Canadian Tire and many other businesses are located.**

Staff addressed the option of phasing in changes, such as trying to create acceleration lanes, but didn’t recommend that.

It’s an all or nothing problem, said Misko in advising against a phased-in approach.

Misko said district had spoken to town officials and businesses, but had only relied on the media releases for public consultation, in reply to a question about how little informed the public was only weeks out from barriers going up.

As it stands, unless Bracebridge has any more concerns, within two months barriers may be up.

At least for year’s pilot as drivers get used to them and then any better changes or options could be implemented.