MILTON, Ont. — Milton, Ont. residents are gearing up to fight Canadian National Railway’s plans to build a $40 million intermodal terminal in their neighbourhood.

Critics of the plan, first announced in February, are worried the increased truck traffic and the loss of agricultural land will hurt the town.

The facility is being built on a 40.5-hectare plot south of Britannia Rd. between Tremaine Rd. and First Line. The trucks would have to drive through the center of town in order to reach Hwy.s 401 and 407.

Milton is just west of Toronto on Hwy. 401 and north of Burlington, Ont.

Town councillors are looking into the legalities of the expansion. Councillor Brian Penman says the railway company only officially notified the town of its plans one day after announcing it to the public. The rail people didn’t provide a lot of details, Penman notes.

The town has sought legal advice, which council members expect to receive at a committee meeting Apr. 23.

“It’s very much a concern. We’ve had some confusing scenarios about the number and volume of tractor-trailers and what roads would be involved,” says Penman.

“Obviously we’ve been riled by the fact that this application completely ignores both the Town of Milton’s official plan and the region’s official plan,” he explains, adding the area has an industrial park.