Erosion along the Lake Erie shoreline is being cited as the root cause for the shutting down of parts of Talbot Trail near Wheatley.
"The closure is required to ensure public safety," the municipality said in a statement. "All businesses along Talbot Trail will remain open."
A section of the old Highway 3 from Coatsworth Road to Stevenson Road has been shut down "until further notice."
Chris Thibert, director of engineering and transportation for the municipality, said the erosion is causing concern for many roads in the region.
"This is the only critical one we see for the next little bit," he said. "Mother nature is unpredictable right now, and climate change is unpredictable [making] the erosion rate very challenging for us."
Alternate traffic routes for commercial trucks and local commuters have been set up.
The detours are as followed:
- Truck, Heavy and Large Load Traffic coming from Wheatley and Blenheim are advised to follow the posted detour route (D-1) which is by way of Wheatley Road and Middle Line.
- Local Traffic will be able to continue on Talbot Trail up to Coatsworth Road (coming from Wheatley) or up to Port Road (coming from Blenheim) where another detour route (D-1) will be posted around the full closure location on Talbot Trail.
- All other roads along Talbot Trail from Wheatley to Coatsworth Road and from Blenheim to Port Road (which includes Stevenson, Baldwin and Radmore Roads) will remain open.
So long as these erosion studies continue, the road will not be opened, according to Thibert.
"Anything we do we want to make sure we're making good use of municipal tax dollars," said Thibert. "We want to find the right solutions which is going to benefit this road for the future."
In addition, a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) will be initiated to fully evaluate this issue and determine recommendations for both short and long term solutions.
Both studies will be completed in 2020, however, there is no time frame to when Coastworth Road and Stevenson Road will be re-opened.