The future realignment of the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH)
has provided the Town of Cornwall with a unique opportunity
to re-imagine the old TCH corridor as a vibrant, functional, safe,
and efficient Main Street in the heart of Cornwall. What once
bisected the community (See Figure 2), now presents a chance
to stitch the community back together and create a functional
town centre extending from east to west through the town.
Some of the Highway restrictions that limited access along this
corridor will be lifted, presenting new opportunities for infill
development or even the redevelopment of existing businesses
or homes on the corridor. Without the proper planning and
visioning for what the corridor could become, there is the very
real chance that opportunities could be missed to make the
street more walkable, pedestrian and bicycle oriented, better
connected to other open space networks in the town and less
automobile focused.
With access limitations removed, it will become much easier to
develop along the corridor, and so now is the time to develop
standards for future development which sets the bar high and
creates a Main Street for Cornwall of the highest quality.