Lambton County road construction projects begin Aug. 14 in Sarnia

A section of Front Street in Sarnia will close temporarily beginning Aug. 14 for road construction.

Front Street is part of the Lambton County road system and the work is planned for the section next to Centennial Park, from London Road to Exmouth Street, the county said.

The intersection of London Road and Front Street will be closed to traffic for three days beginning Aug. 14, followed by the closing of Front Street from London Road to Exmouth Street.

The county budgeted $1.2 million for the work, which will include milling and recycling of the existing pavement, as well as railway crossing improvements, said Glen Hamill, the county’s construction supervisor.

Cope Construction was hired to do the work.

The street is expected to open again to traffic by late September, Hamill said.

“We don’t have any underground infrastructure to work on. We’re going to do some storm repairs, curb repairs and rehabilitate the top.”

Visitors to Centennial Park can access its parking lot using Nelson Street during construction, except for short periods when work is being done in that area, Hamill said.

If the drivers can “have some patience” during the work, it would “be appreciated,” he said.

The county scheduled the work for as late in the summer season as it could, Hamill said.

“As soon as we can get the recycling done and the railway crossing done, I’m sure Cope will be eager to pave it and get it back open.”

It’s one of several road construction projects this year.

They include a $2.1 million rehabilitation of a bridge north of Camlachie on Lakeshore Road that began in April.

“It’s on budget and it’s on schedule,” Hamill said. The detour there is expected to be lifted by the end of September.

A $1.9 million project to resurface another section of Lakeshore Road, between Mandaumin and Telfer roads in Sarnia, is also scheduled to begin Aug. 14. It should be finished by mid-September, “weather permitting,” Hamill said.

Traffic will continue to use Lakeshore Road during the work but there will be daily lane closings and drivers should expect delays, he said.

“We just want everyone to watch their speeds and pay attention out there.”

Intersections along the section of Lakeshore Road where the work is being carried out will see some short-term closings, the county said.

The work will include the addition of a partially paved shoulder.

Work is also finishing up on improvements to a section of County Road 79 near Alvinston, a section of County Road 21 and a section of County Road 26, Hamill said.

“The weather has been cooperating for the most part,” this construction season, he said.

The exception was severe rainfall earlier this summer that resulted in emergency culvert repairs on sections of Lakeshore Road in Lambton Shores, including a spot where a sinkhole opened in the roadway.

“Other than that, it has been pretty good,” Hamill said.

“Everything has been on schedule.”

[email protected]