The next phase of the York Road reconstruction project is expected to get underway in April, resulting in the road being closed between Brockville Avenue, just east of Stevenson Street, and Victoria Road until late fall.
That’s the timeline announced by city officials through a post on the municipality’s website.
“This year, the underground water and sewer pipes, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks will be replaced from Brockville Avenue to Victoria Road South,” states the post, noting the work is expected to begin on April 2, weather permitting. “To accommodate this work, York Road will be closed from Brockville Avenue to Victoria Road South in both directions with limited local access until late-fall 2024.”
Efforts will be made to maintain access to businesses.
This is phase three of four. The reconstruction effort began in 2017, with water and sewer lines replaced and York Road reconstructed between Wyndham and Ontario streets.
Phase 2, from Ontario to Stevenson Street South, was completed in 2022.
Phase three was split into two stages, with reconstruction being the second. The first phase, which was completed last year, involving Stevenson to Brockville. The second, which is to begin in April, will continue the project westward to Victoria.
“The contractor will maintain traffic access to all the side streets, as best they can. To help facilitate traffic circulation the contractor has built a temporary road between the end of Brockville Avenue and Hayes Avenue to provide access to Hayes Avenue, Kingsmill Avenue, Menzie Avenue, Audrey Avenue and Lawrence Avenue via Florence Lane,” explains a separate post on the city’s website.
“Florence Lane will remain a one-way street. Residents will have to use Dodds Avenue or Brockville Avenue to access Hayes Avenue on the temporary. Residents will have to leave their homes via Florence Lane. The city will install a temporary traffic signal at Florence Lane and Victoria Road to facilitate turning movements onto Victoria Road. The temporary signal will only be in place for Stage 2 work.”
City officials are set to host an open house on Feb. 26 so residents can speak with city staff about the reconstruction effort.
The open house is set to run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. inside the Marg MacKinnon Community Room at city hall.
Project information, maps and schedules will also be posted online between Feb. 20 and March 15, providing another opportunity for residents to ask questions of staff.
Phase 4, from Victoria to the city’s eastern boundary, was previously expected to be completed in 2028, but that’s been extended to 2031. The scope of work involved in that phase was downsized during the 2024 to 2027 city budget process; it was among numerous altered or postponed projects that led to the removal of $693.7 million from the multi-year spending plan.
That section had been set for widening from two lanes to four, but will remain as two lanes.