The Hwy. 40 interchange at Hwy. 401 in Chatham-Kent closes next week for improvements.
The closure begins April 18, lasts around seven months and will include improvements to about 10 km of the eastbound 401.
As a result of the construction, Hwy. 40 will close at Creek Road/Pinehurst Line north of the interchange and Communication Rd. will close south of the interchange at Horton Line except for local traffic.
Construction at the 40-401 overpass. April 11, 2017. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Adam Sullo, Chatham-Kent's director of engineering and transportation, says the project will improve sight lines.
"The sight lines are quite bad on the overpass. If you're going southbound and making a left turn on the 401 to London, some of the people can't see the vehicles coming over the other side. Sight lines have been a big concern at this overpass for a number of years going back 15-20 years," says Sullo.
Construction at the 40-401 overpass. April 11, 2017. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
The entire project will cost $62-million and includes new bridges over the Lucas Drain and McGregor Creek.
Sullo says the lanes will be wider to allow for future MTO planning.
"Typically structures like this are lasting between 50 and 75 years. So, I know they've already looked at future traffic provisions and that's part of the reason the traffic signal went down at Creek Line and Pinehurst Line," he says.
Brian Kope with the MTO says a new overpass will be installed at the end of the month and the 401 will be closed overnight from April 28-29 to allow for the work.
"Once that's down then the contractor will be able to rebuild the other half of the 40-401 structure and continue with the work on the 401," says Kope.