Parkway opens new section

by Marissa DeBortoli

Since the week of March 25, traffic along Highway 3 has been shifted to a new three kilometre section of the Right Honourable Herb Gray Parkway between Howard Avenue and Huron Church Road.
This traffic shift marks a significant achievement in the construction of the parkway as traffic will now travel on several permanent features of the parkway—Bridges 10 (west of St. Clair College) and 11 (west of Howard Avenue), and the southern branch of the Hearthwood Tunnel (T-10B). This shift includes the reopening of the former alignment of Sandwich West Parkway and the opening of Diversion 11 west of Geraedts Drive to accommodate traffic in and out of St. Clair College.

Cindy Prince, communications manager for the Parkway Infrastructure Constructors outlined the shift plan during a news conference March 25.

“We’ll need to set up a closure of the existing lanes of Highway 3 so not only do we have to start traffic on the new part of the road but we have to stop it if you’re travelling on the old part of the road,” said Prince.
Shifting traffic onto this section of the parkway provides for the construction of the Geraedts Tunnel, the Cousineau Tunnel and the other side of the Hearthwood Tunnel. In addition, it provides for the construction of the below-grade freeway and associated infrastructure like retaining walls, noise walls, stormwater management and utilities in this area.

This section of the parkway was due to be completed in February but Michael Hatchell, project manager for PIC, said the construction is still on schedule.

“We were shooting for February but with the weather and other things, we’ve had some impacts with that,” said Hatchell. “But this should not impact us from the overall schedule. The schedule still shows potential completion as originally scheduled.”

The Ontario Provincial Police was on hand during the week to assist with the transition. Once the parkway is completed, this section of road will carry local traffic from Howard Avenue, Highway 3 traffic from Essex County through the roundabout and local traffic exiting Highway 401 east of Howard Avenue.