Road construction begins, expect delays

Greater Sudbury and its contractors are preparing for a busy 2012 road construction season.

This year’s capital budget for road and drainage improvements is close to $37 million, including an $8-million investment through the Federal Gas Tax Fund. Here is a list of roads that will be affected:

- In Sudbury, Brady and Douglas streets, as well as Ontario Street to the railway underpass: Grinding begins May 22 for resurfacing of Douglas and Brady streets, from Ontario Street to the CPR underpass. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

- Kingsway near Chapters entrance, Sudbury: Motorists are advised to expect lane closures on the Kingsway at the approach to Chapters bookstore for reconstruction of traffic islands as part of a new north-south collector route. Work is limited to off-peak traffic hours.

- M.R. 55 at Hwy. 17, Lively: The Ontario Ministry of Transportation advises motorists of lane closures for bridge and ramp work at the intersection of Highway 17 and Municipal Road 55 near Lively. Both eastbound and westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane on M.R. 55 in the vicinity of Highway 17 exit and entrance ramps, at various times until October.

- Lavoie Street, Mayfair Court to Montrose Avenue in Sudbury: Work is underway for a new water main installation on Lavoie Street, between Mayfair Court and Montrose Avenue.

- Winchester Avenue in Sudbury: Restoration work is underway to prepare for final surface asphalt on Winchester Avenue. The work will complete last year’s water main and sanitary sewer main repair and replacement capital renewal program.

- Bancroft Drive, from Levesque Street to Moonlight Avenue, Sudbury: The second and final phase of the urbanization of Bancroft Drive is underway from Levesque to Moonlight. Motorists should expect lane closures with minor traffic delays. The project includes widening the existing roadway to accommodate bicycle lanes, new curbs and sidewalks, replacement of an aging water main with larger capacity municipal services, and spot repairs to sanitary and storm sewer systems.

- Levesque Street, from Bancroft Drive to the Kingsway, Sudbury: Asphalt resurfacing on Levesque Street is anticipated to be complete May 18. This will complete a capital renewal program that has provided larger capacity water and sanitary sewer mains, repaired storm sewers and rebuilt road, curbs and sidewalks.

- Champlain Street, from Notre Dame Street to St. Agnes Street in Azilda: Preparatory work is underway for surface asphalt on Champlain Street, to complete last year’s water main replacement.

- Robinson Drive, from Southview Drive to Kelly Lake Road in Sudbury: Water and sanitary sewer main renewal is scheduled to begin during the week of May 22. Work will continue until the fall. Surface asphalt is scheduled for the following year.

- Marier Street in Azilda, M.R. 15 in Blezard Valley and Notre Dame Ave., Hanmer: Grinding and asphalt patching are scheduled on various sections of Marier Street, M.R. 15 and on Notre Dame Avenue in Hanmer until May 18.

- Fairbank Lake Road: Site preparation is underway for the reconstruction of Fairbank Lake Road, from Highway 17 to C. Johnson Road. Access through the nine-kilometre construction site will be maintained at all times with minor delays at work sites and during blasting activities. By the end of the 2012 construction season, the road will be partially paved with intermittent gravel sections.

Posted by Arron Pickard