Travelling on Banwell Road between Tecumseh Road East and the E.C. Row Expressway may take a little longer over the next few months with a $2.5 million construction project underway.
The City of Windsor started phase one of upgrades to the road which will take place between Tecumseh Road East and Palmetto Street. The project includes widening the road to two lanes in each direction, street lighting, traffic signals, and upgrades to the storm sewers.
"These additional lanes will help alleviate traffic congestion during peak times along one of the busiest sections of Banwell," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The project also includes a sidewalk and a multi-use trail.
"We are also making it easier and safer and more accessible for pedestrians and for cyclists. We are building a concrete sidewalk on the east side of the road and a multi-use trail on the west side that will link to our East Riverside active transportation network," said Dilkens.
Construction is expected to wrap up in about 60 days.
"Those 14,000 commuters who use this roadway each and every day will have to suffer through a couple months of disruption but the long term gain will be worth the short term pain," said Dilkens.
The city plans to complete Phase 2 of the project, from Palmetto Street to Wildwood Drive, in the next few years. The intersection of Banwell Road and the E.C. Row Expressway will also eventually be reconstructed, at an estimated cost of $30 million.