Here's a preview of London's top 10 projects for an intense season of construction
The city will see upgrades in its roads, bridges and transit routes
With $190 million invested in projects that will support a rapidly growing population, London, Ont., is in for one of its busiest construction seasons yet.
On top of annual updates to aging infrastructure, a number of critical projects this year are funded from senior levels of government. Those include rapid transit projects and the Adelaide Street North Underpass.
Director of Construction and Infrastructure Services Jennie Dann said this year has double the investment of 2021.
"2022 is going to be a big construction year for us," said Dann.
Aside from the Adelaide Street North Underpass and two rapid transit projects, some of the biggest projects include replacing the Victoria Street Bridge as well as underground infrastructure upgrades and improvements to the cycling network.
This year's top ten projects are:
Adelaide Street North Underpass
Adelaide Street will be reconstructed from Central Avenue to McMahen Street. The project will install a new grade separation with a road for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists passing beneath the railway.
Construction of the underpass won't see completion until 2025, but it's a project that Jodie Marshall, co-owner of Adelaide Street business Marshall's Pasta Mill, deems necessary.
"It needs to be done," Marshall said, "because we are a big caterer, and there's so many times that we have pulled out our driveway to deliver our catering, and we can't get out because we're blocked in by the train."
Downtown Loop Phase 2
The first of London's new rapid transit projects will add a new bus-only lane on Queens Avenue and Ridout Street, enhanced rapid transit stops, traffic signal upgrades and upgrade aging watermains and sewers.
East London Link Phase 1
The East London Link revitalizes more than 6 kilometres of road from Downtown to Fanshawe College. The first phase will add a curbside bus-only lane between Wellington Street and Lyle Street. As of March 21, King Street between Adelaide Street North and Lyle Street will be closed to traffic for approximately four months.
Southdale Road West
One of London's most daily traveled roads will see upgraded watermains, new storm sewers, new sidewalks and bike paths, landscaping, street lights and traffic signals.
Victoria Bridge Replacement
The 90-year-old bridge will see a new steel "through arch" structure and widened deck surface with dedicated bike lane on its eastern side.
Mud Creek Phase 2
This project will see new recreational pathways and landscaping to alleviate future flooding concerns in Mud Creek, a naturalized area located between Oxford St W and Proudfoot lane.
Kilworth Bridge Rehabilitation
Maintenance work will take place on the bridge that was built in 1963 on Oxford Street West.
Queens Avenue Road and Cycle Rehabilitation
The project will switch the location of the bike lane and on-street parking and resurface Queens Ave between Quebec Street and Maitland Street.
Pottersburg Phase 1 Reconstruction
Underground water and sewer infrastructure will be replaced and the Pottersburg Creek Trunk Sanitary Sewer will be realigned.
Brydges Street
Most of the current infrastructure in the area of Brydges Street is over 70 years old, with outdated materials such as cast iron and concrete. The City will reconstruct to improve the reliability of water, and replace the sidewalk and construct new on-road bicycle lanes. The project will also eliminate on-street parking on Brydges Street from Egerton Street to Highbury Avenue North.
Every year, the city must fit its work into a constrained construction season, which means a lot happens all at once. Dann said that while most projects will wrap up in October and November, some may go as late as December. Construction projects are staged into smaller sub areas, and the city works to make sure they're having the least impact for people as they try to get around the city.
The city will be providing updates on road closures or traffic impacts through public service announcements to the media on the city's website. Dann recommends following the City of London on social media for regular up to date information on traffic impacts in the downtown area.
Detours for LTC routes can be found on the LTC's website, and drivers can plan ahead by using the Waze app, a live map showing where construction is taking place and the best route to get around it.
Dann also encouraged residents to visit the website for London's Top 10 Projects.
"We really want to make sure that we're helping people understand how to get around and get downtown and in the core and around these projects. So we want to make sure that communication is really important," she said. "Check out the website and contact our construction teams if you have any questions."