The next phase of work to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Manning Rd. and County Rd. 22 in Tecumseh is underway.
The southbound lanes of Manning Rd. from County Rd. 22 to Amy Croft Dr. are shut down but should reopen soon.
"[The contractor] is working at a very good pace," says Peter Bziuk, manager of design and construction with the County of Essex. "There was asphalt put down yesterday in order to expedite the project. We're anticipating probably by early next week we'll have that lane open."
The northbound lanes on Manning are open.
When the project was approved earlier this year, the anticipated completion date for the entire project was in November. Bziuk says that has not changed, but even after the road work is done, there is a lot to do.
"We still have signal infrastructure to construct. There's poles that have to go up. Wiring that has to be pulled underground. All the signal heads have to be put up. And, then there's the line-painting," he says.
The finished project will give drivers two double left-hand turning lanes, and a right-hand turning lane at each of the four corners.
Bziuk says the project is also not expected to exceed it's $6.9-million budget.
Approximately, 40,000 vehicles pass through the intersection daily, and before construction drivers experienced long delays, sometimes waiting for three or even four light changes to get through. Back in May, County of Essex Engineer, Tom Bateman told BlackburnNews.com the intersection was well beyond its capacity.