Staff Report #8
March 6, 2023
To All Commissioners
Re: 2023 Road Construction Update
Recommendation
The report be NOTED and FILED.
Background
As has been the case over the past number of years, the City of London will be undertaking a large number of construction projects during the 2023 construction season, many of which will have impacts to transit routes and schedule adherence.
LTC administration will work closely with civic administration as well as the specific contractors on each major construction project to ensure regular communication regarding the status of the projects in an effort to mitigate the impact of construction on service and ridership by allowing buses to operate in work zones where it is deemed safe to do so.
Due to the magnitude of work planned for the 2023 construction season, specifically related to the continuation of the Rapid Transit project, construction work in and around the downtown will be starting earlier than has traditionally been the case. Details on the impacts to transit service for early start and carry-over projects are set out below. Full details of all anticipated construction in 2023 will be provided in a future Staff Report.
Downtown Loop Phase II
Construction on Phase II of the Downtown Loop along Queens Ave between Wellington and Ridout, started in the 2022 construction season. Due to construction delays the project was not able to be completed last year and as such has carried over into the 2023 construction season.
Construction resumed on March 1 with the full closure of Queens Ave between Wellington and Clarence. Additional work will also be occurring at the Queens and Richmond intersection as well as finishing work west of Richmond. In order to provide a consistent detour throughout the construction period, reducing confusion for passengers, all 12 routes normally operating on Queens will be detoured to Dufferin between Waterloo and Ridout.
Queens Ave is scheduled to be reopened on July 31.
Downtown Loop Phase III
Phase III of the Downtown Loop, Wellington between York and Queens, is scheduled be begin construction in mid-March. Construction work will be divided into phases with one lane of traffic being maintained northbound and southbound throughout the duration.
As there will only be a single lane in each direction, all transit stops within the construction zone will be closed. In an effort to reduce impacts on schedule adherence as well as provide transit stops between York and Queens, buses normally travelling north and south on Wellington will be detoured to Waterloo.
Additionally, with the lane shifts that will be required for the construction, it will not be operationally feasible for buses travelling eastbound on King to turn onto Wellington and as such these route will also be detoured to Waterloo.
Construction is anticipated to continue until the end of November.
Wellington Gateway I
Construction on the first phase of the Wellington Gateway Rapid Transit Leg is set to commence in mid-March, with work taking place between York and the Thames River (north of Grand). As Wellington will only have a single vehicle lane in each direction within the limits of the construction work, all northbound and southbound stops in this area will be closed for the duration of the project.
Routes 13 and 90 will be detoured via Grand, Carfrae/Richmond to maintain schedule adherence and provide stop locations for passengers. Route 1 will maintain regular routing along Wellington in order to continue to access South Street, Grey Street, and Colborne, noting that there will not be stops on Wellington for Route 1 during construction.
Construction is anticipated to continue until the end of November.
Victoria Bridge
Work continues on the Victoria Bridge reconstruction, with a full closure of Ridout Street. Routes 4, 15 and 104 continue to detour via Grand, Carfrae/Richmond. Work is anticipated to be completed in fall 2023.
Adelaide Street North Underpass
Construction began on the Adelaide Street underpass on April 21, 2022. The temporary by-pass road was opened on September 14, 2022, providing a single lane of traffic on Adelaide between Central and McMahen Street through McMahen Park. As there is only a single lane of traffic, temporary bus stops have not been implemented on the temporary by-pass road. Passengers have been directed to catch the bus at the closest stops north and south of the construction area. The work is currently scheduled to continue through summer 2025.
Communications
The underlying goals with respect to communication regarding detours are to provide passengers and Operators with as much information as far in advance as possible, noting that dates and impacts can change without notice. Accomplishing both of these goals requires a balanced approach. A communication strategy has been developed which includes posting information on internal boards, the website, real-time/Infoweb alerts and social media as well as through stop level notifications which will provide passengers with information regarding which stops are closed and direct them to the closest stop location.
Recommended by:
Shawn Wilson, Director of Operations
Katie Burns, Director of Planning
Concurred in by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager