Road closures and traffic delays, week ending Sept 25, 2021

The following is a selection of the most significant road closures and expected traffic delays in and around the city of Kingston for the week ending Sept. 25, 2021. Full lists of closures and delays provided by the City of Kingston and the MTO can be viewed here and here.

Drivers can expect delays on Cataraqui Woods Drive from Gardiners to Clyde due to lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Southbound drivers on Gardiners Road can expect nighttime closures from Princess to Fortune from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.  

Delays on Grenadier Drive at Windfield Crescent will occur while construction takes place around the Kingston East Community Centre site. Flag-people will be on-site to direct traffic. The sidewalk on the south side of Grenadier Drive at Windfield Crescent may be restricted weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. A flag-person will be on-site to direct traffic and assist pedestrians.

Johnson Street from Oakridge to Helen will be closed through Oct. 1 for the installation of underground infrastructure, and will experience lane restrictions from MacDonnell to Victoria until Sept. 30 to allow for pavement repairs.

Drivers should expect closures and significant delays at the intersection of King Street West and Front Road until June 29, 2022, for the construction of Utilities Kingston’s Portsmouth Pumping Station flow direction project and Front Road trunk water main interconnection Phase 2 project. In the same area, from Sand Bay Lane to Country Club Drive drivers should expect significant delays due to east- and west-bound lane restrictions through 2021. A contractor is installing water and wastewater infrastructure on behalf of Utilities Kingston.

Delays are expected along Kingscourt Avenue and Nelson Street from First to Third from Sept. 20 to 24 as crews prepare the roadway to be paved.

Princess Street at Parkway will experience lane closures from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. nightly until Sept. 24 for construction of the North End Trunk Sewer by a contractor on behalf of Utilities Kingston.  

Rideau Street will be closed from Cataraqui to Charles from 6 a.m. Sept. 20 until 4:30 p.m. Oct. 1 to allow for the construction of a gas main by a contractor on behalf of Utilities Kingston. Motorists can access Cataraqui Street via Rideau Street coming from the Montreal and Railway intersection.  Rideau Street will also experience northbound delays from Cataraqui to Montreal from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Oct. 8 to allow Utilities Kingston crews to replace a gas main. 

Sydenham Road between Horning Road and Rutledge Road will experience lane closures and delays due to pavement rehabilitation activities.

The lower pathway (nearest the waterfront) at 100 Foot Park is now closed as the City readies to repair the lower pedestrian bridge after a regular inspection determined it needs repair. This pathway will be closed for several weeks and signage is in place to redirect pedestrians. The remainder of the park and pathway is open.

On Henderson Blvd from Bayridge to Days (north side) pedestrians can expect limited access to the sidewalk through October as crews construct a new multi-use pathway. Traffic delays may also occur.

Along the Portsmouth Waterfront Pathway the City has erected construction fencing to close access to the pathway and waterfront at the foot of Mowat Avenue and Yonge Street and east of Lakewatch Lane to accommodate pathway and shoreline improvements. The bridge will be removed at the same time. Construction will continue until fall 2021.

School and Play Street Initiative Closures:

The following streets will be closed on a re-occurring basis as part of the Kingston Coalition for Active Transportation’s (KCAT’s) ‘School and Play Street’ initiative.

• School Streets – These streets will be closed on school days from 8:40 a.m. to 9:10 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. starting Sept. 7, 2021 and until June 29, 2022. Inquiries can be directed to KCAT at [email protected].
  • MacDonnell Street – Earl to Union  
  • Hill Street – MacDonnell to Napier
• Play Street – Cheryl Place will be closed using barricades and will be staffed by KCAT, which will manage essential vehicle access and access to driveways. This closure will reoccur on Tuesdays 6 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 1 to 3 p.m. from Sept. 7, 2021 to Aug. 26, 2022.

Calvin Park, Grenville Park, Hillendale, Polson Park and Strathcona Park – Expect local traffic disruptions and minor detours as a contractor prepares to line sewer mains on behalf of Utilities Kingston. The lining of the sewers will extend into the fall. Roadways will be open to traffic. Please follow signage and yield to oncoming traffic as required.

Highway 15:

Details: Third Crossing roadwork on Highway 15  

• Road construction is underway at Highway 15 and Gore Road. Expect delays on Sept. 20, flaggers will be at the intersection from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
  • The roadwork related to the Third Crossing is being coordinated outside of rush hour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There may be some need for extended work hours and work during rush-hour (short-term). 
  • Any lane reductions at Highway 15 and Gore Road will be minimized. 
  • Traffic control and pedestrian accommodation plans have been implemented and include signs and onsite traffic controllers to help with care and pedestrian traffic. 
  • Work will continue until the end of 2021. 
  • Review the new designs of the east shore roadwork on the Third Crossing website. 

Details: Utilities Kingston work south along Highway 15 north of Grenadier to Barriefield  

• Utilities Kingston has responded to public feedback and modified controls to improve traffic concerns related to its work to install a trunk water main: 
  • Construction is underway at various locations between Barriefield and north of Grenadier. 
  • Residents should expect delays until November. 
  • Portable traffic control signals have been removed and flaggers are now present to allow for improved flow of traffic along Highway 15. 

Pittsburgh Branch – Kingston Frontenac Public Library Parking Lots:

By mid-September the Highway 15 parking lot for the Kingston Frontenac Public Library branch at 80 Gore Rd. will be permanently closed. This will occur once the new curb and sidewalk work starts at the north-west corner of Highway 15. To limit the impact as much as possible, crews will ensure the sidewalk at the Gore Road library parking lot is completed before the closure of the Highway 15 parking lot.   

Love Kingston Marketplace disruptions:

• Market Street will be closed from Ontario to King until Oct. 31 to accommodate the Love Kingston Marketplace.
• Temporary road closures may also occur on Ontario Street, Sydenham Street and Princess Street. Watch for signage.

Lower Brewers Swing Bridge – closed until further notice. Temporary bridge closure signs have been installed and detour signs will be installed shortly. Parks Canada is continuing with their efforts to replace the bridge over the upcoming winter.

• For access to Washburn Road (East of the Bridge): Washburn Road East of the bridge to Highway 15 remains open to local traffic only. Traffic from Washburn Road (West of the bridge), Sonneveld Road and Sunbury Road are directed to use Detour D-1 (Regional Road 12 – Sunbury Road East – Highway 15 South)
• For access to Washburn Road (West of the Bridge): Washburn Road East of Sonneveld Road and West of the Bridge remains open to local traffic only. Traffic from Highway 15 are directed to use Detour D-1 (Regional Road 12 – Sunbury Road West)