Hazards related to explosives operations have at least as much to do with transporting them as with plant safety and the environment, a highly placed industry official told this newspaper on a condition of anonymity.

As it transpired, his comment almost coincided with a Burnside & Associates report on a narrow bridge on East Luther Grand Valley Sideroad 21-22, the haul route from County 109 to the Orica plant. It recommends replacing the bridge as well as widening the entrance to the Orica installation.

(Orica and the former East Luther landfill site are both at the end of Sideroad 21-22 north from the Second Line. As you approach the two properties, the dump is a gentle veering to the left and Orica is a sharp turn to the right.)

The official had read the online Orangeville Citizen stories about the Orica saga near the Luther Marsh, and noted there hadn't been much said about possible traffic problems.

"The first thing we look at (when choosing a new site) is the nature of the access roads, and whether anyone is living on them," he said.

"If accidents happen in a (properly constructed and sited) plant, the only risk would be to the employees. Any environmental problems (spills and such) should be contained.

"But (when leaving with a load of explosives) we are at the mercy of God until we get to the main highway."

He cited the tragedy of the Mexican explosion of a truck about 10 years ago, in which 32 onlookers and the drivers perished, and said the vehicle in that instance was fully licensed and under stringent controls.

The official appeared to be unaware of a similar explosion on Highway 17 near Sudbury in 1997 in which the truck left the road, hit a rock-cut, caught fire and the resulting explosion left a crater 30 metres long and 4 metres deep, according to the Sudbury Star at the time.

Closer to home, a Grand Valley-area widow blames inadequate training of a Kesco Canada explosives-truck driver for the death of her husband in January 2000.

Kesco was one of a succession of operators of the "temporary" explosives storage facility now owned by Orica. "The company did not have an emergency plan in place. The fire department, police and paramedics did not know there was an explosives company in the area.

They were as surprised as most of the residents. It was a well kept secret," widow Brenda Pott wrote in her presentation to the April 14 public meeting.

There were 28 presentations at that meeting, including one by Orica representatives, who gave assurances of plant safety and repeated that there would be no manufacturing there.

Among the 27 residential presenters, none was in favour of permanent zoning for an explosives facility.

Not much was said about transportation.

The Burnside report to township planner Tracey Atkinson recommended two roadway improvements - replacement of the single-span bridge on Sideroad 21-22 and widening of the roadway at the entrance to the Orica plant.

Engineer Gord Feniak found that the bridge (designated as No. 13) is adequate for the weight and volume of traffic crossing it, but "there is some concern with the narrow width of the structure and the potential for a truck to go off-road in this location."

He goes into detail about alternatives, and concludes that "the most likely means of addressing the issues at Bridge 13 would be to replace it with a new concrete structure (for about $200,000)."

Residents Peter Turrell and Pat Williams had spoken previously about at least two documented cases of explosives vehicles jackknifing and/or running partially off the roadways. One of those, Mr. Turrell said, was at the entrance to the Orica plant.

Said Mr. Feniak in his report: "We agree there is merit in widening the roadway at the Orica entrance, in order to reduce the risk of trucks leaving the roadway. We also suggest that Orica participate in discussions with the Township over the replacement of Bridge 13 in order to provide a wider platform in that area."