As work progresses on the long-awaited Adelaide Street underpass, drivers will once again have to maneuver around a closure along the main traffic artery.
Starting Saturday, Adelaide Street North between Central Avenue and just north of McMahen Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic. City officials have said the three-day closure is needed so crews can connect new underground infrastructure through the Adelaide and Central intersection.
Drivers will be detoured to Oxford Street East, Highbury Avenue, and Dundas Street. Ongoing lane restrictions further south on Adelaide between King and York streets due to construction of the BRT East London Link are likely to add to driver delays.
Closure map courtesy of the City of London
While pedestrian access will be maintained on Adelaide during the closure, cyclists are being asked to consider using an alternative route on neighbouring streets.
London Transit's route 16 will also be affected. Buses will be detoured from Adelaide Street North and travel along Princess, William and Piccadilly Streets. Temporary stops will be in place on William Street at Regina Street and at Central Avenue.
The city expects this section of Adelaide Street to reopen on Tuesday.
The four-lane Adelaide underpass beneath the CP Rail tracks will eliminate the estimated 11 to 30 times each day drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are blocked by passing trains at the rail crossing. In addition to that, it will provide a reliable route for emergency services and public transit, and reduce cut-through traffic in adjacent neighbourhoods. Construction of it began earlier this year and is expected to take approximately two years to complete with finishing touches on the project to be added by 2025.
