Posted by CowboyPenner The 407 is still several years away as I recall because they are doing more ecological and enviromental studies. The houses that are around here were bulldozed in speculation of construction starting soon. Now the properties have been sitting empty for a couple years 'cause construction was delayed by the previously mentioned studies.

Another thing you notice (especially if you take Highway 7) is the presence of the no-airport signs. There's also a GTAA office in Brougham...they're slowly trying to buy up all the land they'd need. Whenever they snap up a piece they usually sign a deal to buy out the owners at such-and-such a date and when that date comes, they board up the place and move out. A number of places are just sitting idle until all the parcels can be snapped up.

Posted by jB Another thing you notice (especially if you take Highway 7) is the presence of the no-airport signs. There's also a GTAA office in Brougham...they're slowly trying to buy up all the land they'd need. Whenever they snap up a piece they usually sign a deal to buy out the owners at such-and-such a date and when that date comes, they board up the place and move out. A number of places are just sitting idle until all the parcels can be snapped up.

How much land are they going to need? My friend lives just south of Stouffville on the 9th Line. How big is this airport going to be...assuming they decide to build?

The maps I've seen show the required lands extending from inside eastern Markham (as westerly as almost to Markham Road at about 19th/Elgin Mills) north to Glasgow Road in Uxbridge, east to Sideline 16-ish in Pickering including all of Brougham and southerly to Highway 7 between North Road and Sideline 16. The bird hazard boundary is even larger, extending to Whitby and most of Markham.

http://www.tc.gc.c...r/en/maps/menu.htm

MY GOD...that' f****** HUGE!!! How big is Pearson by comparison?

Posted by CowboyPenner MY GOD...that' f****** HUGE!!! How big is Pearson by comparison?

Looks like its....TWO TIMES Larger than Pearson????

Posted by Agent Skelly Looks like its....TWO TIMES Larger than Pearson????

Why so big? Unless the maps are showing the approach routes the planes will take as well.....not just the land to be used by the airport. At the centre of the map are a couple runways which I would assume is the extent of the airport.....with a buffer zone for safety considerations around the property.

Posted by CowboyPenner Why so big? Unless the maps are showing the approach routes the planes will take as well.....not just the land to be used by the airport. At the centre of the map are a couple runways which I would assume is the extent of the airport.....with a buffer zone for safety considerations around the property.

Well, look at this: http://www.tc.gc.c.../airportslarge.htm

That's gonna be one Mega-large airport!!!

...and based on those maps, with towers, terminals, parkades and internal roadways, there'll be little room to spare.

Posted by fedge ...and based on those maps, with towers, terminals, parkades and internal roadways, there'll be little room to spare.

Well if they use the land right, it could have lots of terminal space. I think Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l Airport is roughly the same size as the Pickering Lands and they have 7 terminal buildings.

It's got to be one of the worlds largest airports...won't it? What's been the delay in it's construction? Do you think this region of southern Ontario can such a venture?

Posted by CowboyPenner It's got to be one of the worlds largest airports...won't it? What's been the delay in it's construction? Do you think this region of southern Ontario can such a venture?

I believe the delay is due to money and lack of political will. Considering the size (I thought this was to be a slightly smaller airport to handle the overflow from Pearson), this region of southern Ontario won't be able to handle this without a considerably huge revamp of the infrastructure. Not the right place for such a large airport. Just asking for major headaches.

If this airport gets built, "There goes the neighbourhood".

Posted by fedge The maps I've seen show the required lands extending from inside eastern Markham (as westerly as almost to Markham Road at about 19th/Elgin Mills) north to Glasgow Road in Uxbridge, east to Sideline 16-ish in Pickering including all of Brougham and southerly to Highway 7 between North Road and Sideline 16. The bird hazard boundary is even larger, extending to Whitby and most of Markham.

That sounds about right. They've been trying to do this now for a few decades (at least) and without success. They're having a problem with many farmers simply not wanting to abandon their family homes. Damn farmers.

Posted by fedge ...and based on those maps, with towers, terminals, parkades and internal roadways, there'll be little room to spare.

Yeah, and more. Airport lands also have a number of subsidiary buildings..hangars, administration, hotels, etc. etc.

However, from what I understand this wasn't meant to be an international airport. Just spread out.

Posted by rainman8889 I believe the delay is due to money and lack of political will. Considering the size (I thought this was to be a slightly smaller airport to handle the overflow from Pearson), this region of southern Ontario won't be able to handle this without a considerably huge revamp of the infrastructure. Not the right place for such a large airport. Just asking for major headaches. If this airport gets built, "There goes the neighbourhood".

Actually, it's mostly been delayed because of opposition. They have to have *everyone* with land in the proposed region on board, and that isn't happening. They're organized and have lots of support from the farmers sitting right in the middle. See here: http://www.vocalvoice.ca/home.html

I love that the maps they use still show pre-amalgamation Toronto (ie: Borough of East York, etc).

If they build this airport with existing Durham Region roadways, then traffic will become even worse than it is in the more-developed Peel Region. I sincerely hope that it never happens.

The airport will be loud - pre-existing neighborhoods will be in its landing paths.

More traffic, not enough highways - see above

Animals use that north-south corridor - they won't stop using it just because an airport is there either. Birds, deer, etc... That's why Pearson rarely reveals details of animal deaths on their runways.

There are already established towns in the Pickering lands. Good luck if you live in Brougham... There goes your house.

We simply don't need a Durham airport - why not expand the existing Hamilton airport instead?

I could go on and on...

Posted by fedge I love that the maps they use still show pre-amalgamation Toronto (ie: Borough of East York, etc). If they build this airport with existing Durham Region roadways, then traffic will become even worse than it is in the more-developed Peel Region. I sincerely hope that it never happens. The airport will be loud - pre-existing neighborhoods will be in its landing paths. More traffic, not enough highways - see above Animals use that north-south corridor - they won't stop using it just because an airport is there either. Birds, deer, etc... That's why Pearson rarely reveals details of animal deaths on their runways. There are already established towns in the Pickering lands. Good luck if you live in Brougham... There goes your house. We simply don't need a Durham airport - why not expand the existing Hamilton airport instead? I could go on and on...

As funny as it sounds, I think what Montreal originally wanted to do with its airports would work better in Toronto; that is have an airport for domestic flights and an airport for international flights and split up transborder flights to both of them.

Posted by fedge I love that the maps they use still show pre-amalgamation Toronto (ie: Borough of East York, etc). If they build this airport with existing Durham Region roadways, then traffic will become even worse than it is in the more-developed Peel Region. I sincerely hope that it never happens. The airport will be loud - pre-existing neighborhoods will be in its landing paths. More traffic, not enough highways - see above Animals use that north-south corridor - they won't stop using it just because an airport is there either. Birds, deer, etc... That's why Pearson rarely reveals details of animal deaths on their runways. There are already established towns in the Pickering lands. Good luck if you live in Brougham... There goes your house. We simply don't need a Durham airport - why not expand the existing Hamilton airport instead? I could go on and on...

Well put fedge. With all the hassles of extra traffic, noise and don't forget since 9/11, extra insurance rates, property values will go down the toilet. A lot of home owners will be royally screwed.

Guilty on all counts. In fact, one of the biggest complaints that the opposition groups are pushing through right now is the falling property values that this would cause. The only problem for now, as far as I can see it, is that the government is a very patient entity and I have a feeling that the airport will be put in eventually. On the bright side of things, it would give us a lot to do after everything is bought out and boarded up.

Another house just south of me was bulldozed within the last 2 days. The property is nice and flat now...perfect for a metal detector.