Drivers in southwest London will no longer have to deal with construction closures and lane restrictions at one of the area's busiest intersections.
As of Monday, the new two-lane roundabout at Colonel Talbot Road and Southdale Road West will be fully opened to traffic. Crews had been working to convert the intersection from traditional traffic lights to a roundabout since the spring.
During the construction, the intersection had lane restrictions and, at times, complete closures.
One lane of the roundabout was opened at the start of October. However, the second lane remained closed. Its opening Monday comes more than three weeks ahead of schedule, according to the city.
Navigational signage and pavement markings have been put in place to assist drivers through the roundabout.
The $9 million overhaul, one of the city's top 10 construction projects for 2023, is intended to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection.
"The intersection has been reconfigured as a two-lane roundabout with active transportation improvements, including separated bike paths and new pedestrian sidewalks and crossovers," the city said. "There is a growing number of two-lane roundabouts in Ontario and across the country, as roundabouts are better for the environment and result in less severe types of collisions in comparison to signalized intersections."
The change also will help accommodate future travel demand in the southwest-end.
