A Plan by the Ministry of Transportation to build a new highway to link Brantford and Cambridge is getting mixed reviews.

Dr. Robert Feagan, an environmentalist and professor at Wilfrid Laurier Univiersity's Brantford campus, believes a new Highway 24 would destroy agricultural land and waste time and money.

"It's not in my books the right thing to do," Dr. Feagan said. "We don't need more highway, we need to rethink transportation."

Feagan's views fly in the face of local business associations, who are throwing their support behind the plan.

Daniel Marchuk of the Brantford Regional Real Estate Association said the corridor, referred to as the 424 Highway or new Highway 24, will boost tourism and recreational access.

"It's a long needed project that is certainly timely," he said. "Now is the time to prepare for future growth and development expectations of tomorrow."

Marchuk also said the new highway could be of particular benefit to the real estate sector by providing a new, safer route for commuters.

"As people look to expand out from the GTA and look for more affordable housing, certainly it will help in that regard," Marchuk said.

The Brant-Brantford Chamber of Commerce is equally supportive of the new highway.

"It relates to jobs in our community and to the economic vitality of our community," Barry English, president of the chamber said. "It's a step in making sure we're on the transportation map."

Unfortunately for supporters of the plan, the new Highway 24 has come under fire.

The SMART (Save Money and Reduce Traffic) Coalition has filed a case in divisional court challenging the plan.

In a recent press release, SMART stated: "If the highway goes forward as planned, it will set a precedent that the growth plan is not legally binding and could re-open the door for continued uncontrolled sprawl across the Greater Golden Horseshoe."

The MTO has initiated the process to build a new highway by submitting a terms of reference for an environmental assessment for the project to the Ministry of the Environment. That was approved in July, prompting the court action.

The SMART coalition, a concerned group of citizens, has been working since 2007 to oppose the entirely new highway and route which would connect Highway 401 and 403.