Ongoing rehabilitation work along Grand Avenue East is on track and expected to be completed by the end of next month, municipal officials say.
That news will come as a relief to motorists and area businesses on the busy stretch of roadway, which has experienced some delays and periodic lane closures since construction began in September 2021, although access was maintained.
The improvements consist of a full asphalt pavement replacement, as well as the installation of curbs and gutters, subdrains, catch basins and the left-turning lane at Michener Road. The project also includes the replacement of Grand Avenue over the Arnold Creek culvert.
The $6.6-million rehabilitation project was roughly split between the municipality and the province, and encompassed a 2.2-kilometre stretch of road between Taylor Avenue and the CP Railway west of Communication Road.
“We are still anticipating that the project will be completed before the end of November,” Brendan Falkner, Chatham-Kent’s manager of engineering, roads and bridges, told The Daily News on Friday.
The surface asphalt was just placed this week, he added. As for the replacement of the culvert at Arnold Creek, the construction was staged in two phases to allow for two lanes of traffic to be maintained on Grand Avenue at all times.
The south side of the culvert was completed first, with crews now working on the north side.
Once that has been finished, the section of Grand Avenue at the culvert will be paved.
Falkner said overall the work to date has proceeded fairly well, noting there are often hurdles with any road project of this scale.
“Any time we are reconstructing a high-traffic volume road like Grand Avenue, there are challenges faced with keeping traffic flows constant and access to business open at all times,” he said.
“We have been able to work with our contractor to schedule and phase construction activities to try and minimize any traffic and driveway entrance disruptions.”
Boulevard grading and restoration in all areas affected by construction will continue over the next four to six weeks.