Construction to widen the section of Waterdown Road north of the 403 is in full swing, with the cities of Burlington and Hamilton working with the Region of Halton on the project announced in 2016.
Headed by Kapp Infrastructure Inc., the work started in late February and is planned to finish at the end of 2026. The City of Burlington hopes that the wider road will alleviate traffic between Burlington and Waterdown, while laying the infrastructure for urban development in the area.
Lane reductions
Traffic in the construction zone will be reduced to one lane in areas, causing slowdowns and backups.
The plans including widening the two-lane road from Craven Avenue to Mountain Brow Road, turning it into a three-lane road with bike lanes until traffic volumes increase enough to mark it as a four-lane road. The current phase of the project has a budget of around $39 million.
Curbs, gutters and a pathway will be added to around three kilometres of the roadway, and a sidewalk will be installed along a 500-metre residential strip north of Flatt Road.
Major water system restructuring will also be happening in the area as a full replacement of the watermain in the construction zone will be accompanied by the installation of storm sewers. Beautification is also planned, in the form of new trees, street lights and landscaping.
Project delays
Several issues delayed the project from its proposed start in 2020.
“The schedule for the project was delayed due to various factors,” Janine Yaromich, manager of design and construction for the City of Burlington, said. “Challenges with land acquisitions, permitting, utility relocations and impacts related to COVID-19. An enabling works project was also necessary, involving the construction of multiple retaining walls and grading.”
Despite the delays, the plans for the area have remained consistent with the plan proposed in 2016, aside from shifting the responsibility of an intersection at Mountain Brow Road to the City of Hamilton.
Residents in the area were warned about potential internet disruptions over the course of the construction and made aware that access to and from their property during construction hours may be difficult.
