Niagara-on-the-Lake’s mayor says information spreading online that the Niagara Region is scrapping the construction of a controversial roundabout in St. Davids is false, and that region is postponing the project, not cancelling it.
In a statement from Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, published Oct. 5, he says the region confirmed to the town that information circulating on social media suggesting that the roundabout project has been terminated is incorrect.
This comes two days after Vaughn Goettler, a candidate for lord mayor in NOTL’s election, posted on Facebook the afternoon of Oct. 3 that he had heard that the St. Davids roundabout “has been terminated once and for all,” while noting this information had yet to be confirmed.
“I have advocated against it for the past four years and am satisfied that the right decision has been made. We can now get on with the business of fixing infrastructure in the village,” he said.
Credit: SOURCED
Lord mayor candidate Vaughn Goettler’s post from Saturday, Oct. 3 about the future of the St. Davids roundabout. On Oct. 5, the post was updated with the following note: “UPDATE: Niagara Region has since confirmed that the roundabout has been deferred, not cancelled. I have posted a clarification correcting the record.”In Zalepa’s statement on Monday afternoon, he said that the Niagara Region advised the town that the project was deferred through its capital budget planning process to allow infrastructure investments that are a higher priority to go forward, while the region continues to work on “broader St. Davids improvements,” such as enhancing pedestrian infrastructure.
“The project has not been cancelled. Residents deserve accurate information, particularly on matters that have generated significant public interest,” he said. “During an election period, it is especially important that information shared with the community is based on confirmed facts and primary sources rather than speculation or assumptions.”
Following the release of Zalepa’s statement, Goettler posted an update on his campaign page stating that he noted the confirmation was pending in his Oct. 3, but that he “went further than I should have before the confirmation was received.”
“Niagara Region has now confirmed that the project has been deferred, not cancelled. I got that distinction wrong, and I want to correct the record,” he said.
“Having said that, deferred is not cancelled. The region needs to listen to the residents of St. Davids and cancel the project — once and for all.”
The St. Davids roundabout, set to be built in the village’s main intersection of York and Four Mile Creek roads, has been several years in the making — during that time, it’s drawn vocal pushback from some St. Davids residents.
Critics have argued against the region’s position that the roundabout will improve traffic safety in the area for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
They’ve shared concerns that the roundabout will impact businesses along these roads, alter the historical nature of the village and invite more traffic into their community, making it difficult to navigate for locals.
As of April 2025, the project was expected to be complete by winter 2027. Zalepa’s statement on Monday did not include information about how long the deferrment will last for, and what the expected new completion date is for the roundabout.
