Phase one of the roundabout project at Queens Line and Merlin Road is about to start.
Chatham-Kent councillors voted 15-1 at their meeting Monday night to approve the project's builder and price tag.
The first phase includes realigning the roads and that work is planned to begin this Fall.
The second phase to rehabilitate the bridge is planned to begin in February 2025, while the final phase to construct the roundabout is set to begin in the Spring of 2025.
The work will require closing Merlin Road north and south of the intersection for extended periods, while keeping Queens Line open for most of the work, according to Chatham-Kent Manager of Engineering Brendan Falkner.
"A full closure of the intersection of Queens Line and Merlin Road will be required as part of the last phase of work to construct the central portion of the roundabout," said Falkner. "This is anticipated to occur in late spring 2025, and advanced notification will be provided to motorists through this area."
Falkner noted the roundabout project is scheduled to be completed by July 2025 and will cost around $6 million, exceeding the original price tag by about $1.4 million.
Falkner said the extra costs include road improvements along the approaches to the new intersection, replacement of guiderail, realignment of underground services, and grading improvements.
Rehabilitation of the existing bridge at the intersection, road works to realign the intersection and construct a new roundabout, and adding streetlighting and other measures to improve road safety at the intersection also added to the price, said Falkner.
The price tag for the roundabout began at $2.1 million, but that ballooned to $4.6 million with the extra bridge work that was not anticipated. The construction timeline was also delayed by about eight months because of the bridge work.
"The winning proposal has demonstrated an understanding of the scope of the project and the challenges related to planning, staging and the various construction activities. Due to the complexity of this project, the higher cost associated with the various items is warranted," wrote Falkner in his report.
The report was approved by Chatham-Kent Council Monday night.
Meanwhile, the speed limits on Queens Line will be lower soon.
A report by Chatham-Kent Manager of Transportation Jeff Hagan recommending the changes was up for discussion at the Council meeting Monday night.
The approved changes include lowering the speed limit to 60 km/hr approaching the roundabout at Queens Line and Merlin Road. The speed limit on Queens Line in the vicinity of Merlin Road is currently 90 km/hr.
The speed limit will also be lowered to 80 km/hr to allow for a one kilometre transition zone east of the 60 km/hr zone.
Hagan said the lower speed limits are part of a plan to improve road safety and address fatal and serious injury collisions.
"This speed limit is consistent with best practices for rural roundabouts and is intended to provide a transition zone for drivers between free-flow traffic and the reduced speeds required within the roundabout (design speed 20 km/h), as well as to prepare drivers to stop in the event of a queue of vehicles," wrote Hagan in his report.
Other Queens Line speed reductions include lowering the speed limit by 10 km/hr to 80 km/hr between the Highway 401 interchange and Merlin Road.
The alignment of speed limits was also approved from the Highway 401 interchange to Tilbury.
The speed limit on Queens Line will be reduced from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr between Tilbury Street and Davidson Road to provide a smoother transition in speed limits for westbound vehicles entering Tilbury and from 90 km/hr to 80 km/hr between Davidson Road/Wheeler Line and the Highway 401 interchange.