Construction on the Queen's Line and Merlin Road roundabout is about to resume and with it will come detours, lane reductions, and closures.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said drivers may experience some delays due to the work on the single lane roundabout and the bridge beside it starting this upcoming week.
Municipal officials said the contractor is tentatively scheduled to mobilize equipment and install traffic control signs and detour information starting the week of March 17, 2025.
The work this Spring is planned to be done in three phases.
Phase 1 will involve construction in the westbound lane of Queen's Line, but during this phase, Queen's Line will remain open to traffic with lanes being shifted south.
"There is the potential for short term lane reductions down to one lane with flagging on Queen's Line at times during the construction," said the municipality in a news release.
Phase 1 also requires a full closure of Merlin Road between Queen's Line and McDougall Line starting Monday, March 24, 2025, according to the municipality.
Merlin Road south of Queen's Line will remain open during this time.
Phase 1 is anticipated to be about six weeks long.
Phase 2, later this Spring, will involve construction in the eastbound lane of Queen's Line with traffic shifted to the north.
"During this phase, Queen's Line will be reduced to a single lane of traffic. Temporary Portable Traffic Signals will be installed on Queen's Line to safely direct traffic through the construction zone," the municipality noted.
This phase will require a full closure of Merlin Road between Gleeson Line and McDougall Line, said municipal officials.
Phase 2 should last approximately five weeks.
Phase 3 will require a full closure of Queen's Line and lane relocation for a short time to fully complete the roundabout.
"Exact timing of the full closure will be shared with the public when this is scheduled later in the Spring," said the municipality.
The municipality promises to update the public as each phase of the work approaches.
Officials are also reminding drivers about reduced speed limits along Queen's Line through the construction area and that those reduced speed limits will remain in place after the new roundabout is complete.
The dates of the closures may change as work progresses, according to officials.
The $6 million roundabout is expected to be finished in July 2025.
Click here for construction updates.