OAKVILLE, Ont. — More pollution, both noise and smog, as well as problematic congestion top the list of complaints against a proposed new highway cutting through the Niagara Peninsula.

Burlington politicians are raising concerns over the proposed mid-peninsula highway’s route, which is slated to run right through their city.

While the route is in rural Burlington north of Hwy. 5, Councillor John Taylor urges all residents, wherever they live, to get involved. He says the highway is bound to reduce their living environment with air pollution, noise, and destruction of natural areas as developers push the city to extend its urban boundary to the new highway.

The city, however, appears to be on a collision with Transportation Ministry officials.

Ministry manager Fred Leech told a Halton region committee he will carry on with summer information sessions, and will not divide the environmental assessment of the new highway into two sections — one for Burlington, and the other for the rest of it in Hamilton and Niagara Region.

The proposed Burlington section runs east from Hamilton in an corridor south of Number One Side Road to Cedar Springs Road, then southeast to link to the 407 toll highway between Guelph and Walkers lines.