Lane restrictions will begin Monday on one of London’s busiest arterial routes as the city enters the final stage of the Wellington Gateway project’s third phase. According to a news release, starting Monday overnight paving will take place on Wellington Road as part of the third phase of the Wellington Gateway project. The City of London says the work will occur nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and take place between Wilkins Street and Harlech Gate. In order “minimize impacts to daytime traffic and improve safety for crews,” the city adds paving will take place overnight over four nights, from June 1 to June 4, with a fifth night on June 5 if required due to weather delays. Traffic will remain partially open throughout the work, with lane restrictions and access changes varying nightly depending on the paving location. The work will be completed in stages, with directional closures shifting between northbound and southbound lanes along Wellington Road, the city adds. Temporary restrictions will also be required at the Wellington Road and Southdale Road intersection, along with limited access to some side streets and business entrances during paving operations. Drivers are asked to follow posted signs and detour routes. People travelling through the area should expect delays, use caution, allow extra travel time, and plan ahead using navigation apps such as Waze or Google Maps. “Overnight work allows crews to complete paving operations more safely and efficiently while reducing disruptions for people travelling through the area during peak daytime hours,” the city said in a statement. For detailed information on nightly closures, traffic impacts, and construction updates, people can visit the Wellington Gateway project page. What is Wellington Gateway? According to the city, Wellington Gateway is one of London’s rapid transit projects, “designed to make travel along Wellington Road faster, more reliable, and less affected by traffic.” The project includes about six kilometres of upgrades between downtown and Highway 401, with new transit priority lanes, improved walking and cycling connections, streetscape improvements, and underground infrastructure upgrades. Phase three on the project first started two years ago and involved the replacement of underground infrastructure such as watermains and sewers. The city says phase three is the final step in building the road surface and will consist of the placement of the final layer of asphalt, painting red transit lanes in the centre of the roadway, and installing rapid transit stations. “This is a major milestone because it means all underground work is complete and the project is now in its final stage of road construction,” the city said.
