Spring is in the air, and so is construction
Construction projects will cost the city about $200M this year
Spring is in the air, and with it — construction season.
The City of London has unveiled its Top 10 construction projects for 2023, which will cost the city about $200-million.
That includes $53 million for road improvements, $42 million for water system improvements and $67 million for sewer improvements, and comes on the heels of a 2022 construction season that cost the city $190 million.
The numbers:
- 80 km of roads to be constructed.
- 20 km of sanitary and storm sewers replaced or added and 12 km of water mains rebuilt.
- 16 km of new bike lanes, 14 km of new sidewalks and 26 km of sidewalks replaced.
The city has also released an interactive map that shows the construction projects going on this year. You can find that interactive map here.
"While the 2023 projects have been scheduled to minimize disruptions to traffic, commuting around the city will be impacted," the report about construction advises. Much of that disruption will be downtown, with work on Wellington Road, Queens Ave, King Street and Old East Village.
Construction crews and city staff also have to deal with increasing security breaches at construction sites, the report says.
"After-hours security is becoming an increasing necessity for several reasons with reported incidents of vandalism, trespassing and material theft becoming more brazen," officials say.
Companies bidding on large construction projects are now commonly adding private security to their bids, driving up costs.
Big projects for 2023:
- Intersection improvements at Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street. The work includes in-boulevard bike paths, new sidewalks, streetscaping and underground infrastructure upgrades. The project is expected to cost almost $15-million. Work begins this spring and is expected to be done in 2024.
- A roundabout for Southdale and Colonel Talbot Roads, which will completely reconfigure that intersection, install in-boulevard bike paths and new sidewalks, and rebuild above and below-ground infrastructure. The project will cost just under $9 million.
- New sidewalks and cycling lanes, infrastructure replacement and streetscaping on Quebec Street from Oxford Street to the CP rail overpass. Some trees will be removed, curbs and gutters replaced, and intersections will be altered. The work will be mostly finished by fall 2023, with some further work anticipated for spring 2024.
- Transforming Dingman Drive from Wellington Road South to Hwy. 401 from a two-lane rural road to a four-lane urban road. Construction will begin this spring and is expected to be done in December 2023, with some work planned for 2024. It will include new street lights and infrastructure work to accommodate future growth. The project will cost about $10-million.
- Work will continue on the Ridout Street bridge over the Thames River from Horton Street into Old South. Work to replace the 90 year old bridge began last year and most of it is supposed to be done this year.
- The East London Link project will revitalize 6 km of road from downtown to Fanshawe College, adding rapid transit and other transportation improvements, costing $70 million. Phase 2 of the project includes work on King Street starting at Lyle Street, east to Ontario Street, and continuing on Dundas Street to just east of Egerton.
- Another rapid transit project is the Wellington Gateway, which will add streetscape elements as well as above and below-ground transportation improvements. Work along Wellington Street starts at York Street and continues south to the Thames River. This phase costs $15 million. Also on Wellington, work continues from Queens Avenue to York Street and will cost $13.6 million.
- Work on the Adelaide Street underpass continues this summer. The $60-million project continues to impact Adelaide Street between Central Avenue and Pall Mall Street.