MTO is reminding drivers and truckers who are seemingly unaware of the new Herb Gray Parkway in Windsor that the new six-lane extension of Highway 401 is now open.
MTO has sent out full details to the trucking industry on the parkway, including how to enter/exit by bypassing Highway 3. It also urges travellers and carriers to be patient with some growing pains as the entire project moves toward full completion.
MTO sent the following details about accessing the Parkway, restrictions, ongoing construction and other related issues:
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As part of the construction staging for the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway (the Parkway), a portion of the below-grade Highway 401 between North Talbot Road Bridge and Labelle Street will open to both westbound and eastbound traffic prior to the entire project being completed. Links to photos, maps and other information related to this opening can be found here.
Temporary Traffic Configuration
Westbound Highway 401 traffic between the existing Highway 401 and Huron Church Line will be in a three lane configuration. The speed limit in this stretch is 80 km/h. West of Huron Church Line, the number of lanes will decrease from three to two with the third lane closed. These two lanes of traffic will continue to the westbound Highway 401 off-ramp to Highway 3/Huron Church Road and re-connect with the at-grade Highway 3 (northbound Huron Church Road). The speed limit through this stretch of Highway 401 is 60 km/h.
Eastbound Highway 401 traffic from southbound Huron Church Road (eastbound Highway 3) will enter the below-grade Highway 401 via the on-ramp east of the Bethlehem Avenue intersection. The highway will be in a three lane configuration through to the existing Highway 401. The speed limit through this section is 100 km/h.
Border-bound Highway 401 Traffic
Travellers originating on Highway 401 or travellers who enter below-grade Highway 401 from a Parkway on-ramp and are destined for the Canada-U.S. border will continue along Highway 401 within the Parkway corridor, exit at the westbound Highway 401 off- ramp to Highway 3/Huron Church Road and continue on Huron Church Road northbound toward existing border crossings.
Ongoing Construction Works
The partial opening of Highway 401 allows for traffic to be shifted from Highway 3 to Highway 401 so that construction works can be completed on Highway 3. During this stage of construction, travellers will experience short-term ramp and road closures along with other construction works.
The project team has coordinated with municipalities, police and local emergency services during the construction phase. Police and local emergency services are recipients of all electronic mailings regarding Parkway traffic operations and are regularly kept informed of ongoing traffic details. Keeping these groups aware of changes in roadway layouts and aware of traffic restrictions is important to ensure that they can respond quickly and safely to emergencies.
The project team also asks the public to make safe driving a priority when travelling through the Parkway construction zone.
• Be aware of road closures and traffic restrictions before getting on the road.
• Obey the traffic control person’s signs.
• Expect the unexpected like changes in road surfaces and traffic patterns.
• Pay attention at all times.
• Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
If you plan to travel through the corridor, visit the What’s Happening section or the interactive map on the project website or check out our Twitter feed before you head out to find the latest traffic information. If the public has any concerns regarding this construction staging, or other aspects of construction, please contact or visit the Public Liaison Office at 1-877-937-5929, 2187 Huron Church Road Suite 340, or hgp-plo@wemg.ca.
Please visit www.hgparkway.ca to learn more about the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway. Updates are posted on Twitter (www.twitter.com/hgparkway) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/hgparkway) and photos and videos are posted on Flickr (www.flickr.com/hgparkway) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/hgparkway).
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