Utilities Kingston provides Front Road project update ahead of winter pause

The current phase of a multi-year infrastructure project that has seen traffic disruptions along Front Road and King Street West for well over a year will be restoring regular traffic flow by the end of December before pausing for the winter.

In a media release dated Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, Utilities Kingston provided an update on the water and sewer project: 

1. Utilities Kingston assumed care and control of the King Street West and Front Road corridor, as of October 23. 
2. The utility company has retained R.W. Tomlinson Limited to complete the temporary remedial works required to open the road sections fully to regular traffic flow. 
3. Tomlinson is expected to start restoration works by November 21. 
4. The scheduled completion date is prior to the end of December 2022. 
5. Follow @utilitieskngstn on Twitter for updates on traffic disruptions. 

Utilities Kingston and Tomlinson remain committed to restoring the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and will keep the community informed on progress, the utility company stated.

The local utility provider is taking over the project to return the roadway to a state which allows for regular traffic flow after the entire project came to a halt this past summer. In short, that work stoppage was due to reported contractor conflicts, the expiration of necessary permits, and the need for a new traffic control plan. Utilities Kingston is undertaking the roadwork aspect to allow regular traffic flow while the project is dormant through the winter.

Utilities Kingston anticipates the project will restart in the spring of 2023. According to the release, the plans will include feedback received from community members at an information session that took place in September. A second information session will be held following the resumption of the project, to provide community members with an update and timelines.   

“This project will redirect sewage from the Portsmouth Pumping Station and interconnect a trunk water main,” Utilities Kingston said. “It is expected to save energy, reduce sewer overflows, create capacity to support downtown development, and improve operations and system performance. The current phase of the project, Phase 2A, affects areas along Front Road and King Street West from Sand Bay Lane (Front Road bridge) to Country Club Drive.”

Utilities Kingston said “safe traffic flow is a priority,” and provided the following details:

• Due to the narrow lanes, this is a “Shared Lane” and “No Passing” Zone. Please do not pass cyclists in this reduced lane area. 
• The construction zone has been posted as 40 kph. 
• Reduce your speed when encountering cyclists. 
• Leave a safe following distance should a cyclist need to stop suddenly.

After repeated inquiries from Kingstonist regarding the delays occurring in this project earlier this year, the City of Kingston and Utilities Kingston released information online and provided an updated project webpage, before holding the aforementioned public information session.

Kingstonist will continue to monitor advancements on this project and provide updates as the spring construction season kicks off and the second public information session is scheduled.