Ontario is concluding the delayed expansion of a local highway while launching the delayed expansion of another.
All four eastbound lanes are now open on Highway 8 between Kitchener and Cambridge. By late November, three westbound lanes should be open from Sportsworld Drive to west of the Grand River. However, the planned fourth (outer) lane will stay closed this winter to complete work on the bridge over the Grand.
Highway 8 expansion concludes next year with final paving, gravel placement along the shoulders and final bridge work. The project cost $87 million.
After missing most of the construction season, work launches this fall to widen the Highway 7/8 expressway in west Kitchener, between Courtland Avenue and Fischer-Hallman Road.
The project is estimated at $150 million and will replace several bridges. It includes widening to six lanes, the installation of a median barrier, better lighting and extended noise barriers.
This year, shoulders are to be paved to accommodate work planned for the median. The latest project staging provided by the Ministry of Transportation calls for:
• 2012 — Work on the Fischer-Hallman bridge and the west end of the expressway, west of Westmount Road.
• 2013 — Work on bridges at Westmount, at CN Rail and at Courtland. Work on the expressway from west of Westmount to west of Homer Watson.
• 2014 — Work on bridges at Homer Watson and at Ottawa Street. Work on the expressway from Ottawa to Homer Watson.
• 2015 — Final paving.
The province is working with regional government to finalize a remodelled interchange at Homer Watson. The plan calls for twin roundabouts at Ottawa and at Alpine Road and a second access ramp onto the eastbound expressway, from the proposed Alpine roundabout.
All this expansion is regrettably overdue. Planning documents show Highway 8 was originally supposed to be widened by last year. Highway 7/8 widening was originally planned to conclude by 2013.
The province is not planning to widen the Highway 85 expressway through Waterloo, even though its four lanes get congested and traffic is expected to increase by up to 20 per cent by 2016. Instead, the highway will be repaved, bridges repaired and lighting improved in the next few years.
The province is watching to see if rail transit, planned to launch in 2017, will help take cars off the expressway. Hmm.
Jeff Outhit can be reached at 519-895- 5642 or jouthit@therecord.com.
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