Highway 6 reopens after Six Nations group takes down barricades

Traffic is once again moving along the Highway 6 bypass around Caledonia.

The bypass opened as of 4:45 p.m. on Friday, one day after Indigenous land activists removed barricades that had been blocking the highway for just over two weeks.

Any needed repairs have been completed and Ministry of Transportation inspectors deemed the roadway fit for travel.

The barricades went up on Aug. 5 in response to the OPP forcibly removing a group from Six Nations that was occupying the site of a planned housing development on McKenzie Road in Caledonia. The occupiers say the land is unceded Haudenosaunee territory, while the developers and Haldimand County council say the land is privately owned and eligible for development.

Argyle Street remains closed between Highway 6 and Braemar Avenue due to an additional barricade, while the construction site, commonly known as McKenzie Meadows, remains occupied by the Indigenous group, which has renamed the site 1492 Land Back Lane.

Open dialogue continues," said OPP Const. Rod LeClair. The OPP will continue to monitor the area to ensure public safety and extends its appreciation to everyone for their co-operation and patience during this time."

J.P. Antonacci's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about the regions of Haldimand and Norfolk.