Walkers and cyclists should no longer have trouble navigating a tricky south Windsor intersection.
On Tuesday, the city formally opened the new pedestrian and bicycle underpass on Dougall Avenue at the CN railway tracks. The opening was the climax of a long period of study and planning, along with a difficult construction process.
The opening was attended by Mayor Drew Dilkens, along with Ward 10 Councillor Jim Morrison, whose district includes the underpass. Councillors Rino Bortolin and Kieran McKenzie were also in attendance.
The new tunnel system makes it much easier for walkers and cyclists to use the intersection safely. Dougall Avenue in that stretch is a gateway to Ouellette Avenue, the primary central artery of the downtown core.
The underpass had been a headache for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike since the 1970s when the first cries were heard from residents wanting improvement. The mayor said the length of time it took to complete it had nothing to do with motivation from the city.
"One of the biggest barriers really wasn't the money," said Dilkens. "It really wasn't a will of city council. It was trying to get cooperation with a very old, established organization like CN Rail."
The city had to work with the railway entity to close the tracks down completely for a period of 48 hours to allow crews to complete the difficult, intricate work of installing the tubes in the pedestrian and cycling walkways.
The underpass is the second phase of a massive improvement project in the area. The first phase was the improved, signalized intersection just north of the underpass at Dougall Avenue and Ouellette Place. Together, the two projects cost about $9 million.
A YouTube video produced by the city, shown below, describes the layout of the new underpass.
https://twitter.com/CityWindsorON/status/1272990456914345988