Phase Five of County Road 42 reconstruction started eight months ahead of schedule.
To date, the work has included roundabouts at Banwell Road and Manning Road and widening the road from two lanes to five.
The next phase of the project includes widening of the road from Banwell Road to the border of Windsor. The project also includes new storm sewers and a water main, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting and landscaping. The cost of the final phase is $9.7 million.
"You'll see traffic barrels out, obviously crews on site, just travel that corridor safely. Nothing should change necessarily right now compared to before construction started. However, there may be slowdowns if you see a truck backing up into the work zone," said Project Manager Daniel Baggio.
At some point during construction, there will be alternating road closures.
Construction will continue into December and then continue in spring 2027. The project is expected to be complete by summer 2027.
The entire five-phase project cost upwards of $900 million.
“The County of Essex is not only opening up this vital east-west corridor for economic development and the construction of more homes but enhancing neighbourhood connectivity through upgrades like new bicycle lanes, sidewalks and multi-use trails,” said Warden Hilda MacDonald. “This corner of the County is growing, and our road network is expanding to accommodate that growth. These improvements will ease congestion for commuters, smooth traffic flow and help support the residential, commercial and industrial development to come.”
