Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction has finally started on London’s bus rapid transit system after more than seven years of planning and debate.
The first phase of the Downtown Loop will include upgrades to sewers and watermains between Richmond and Wellington streets as well as creating curbside transit-only lanes, adding new traffic signals and streetlights.
At an expected cost of $28.5 million plus underground work, the loop will create dedicated bus-only lanes along a series of four streets that around the downtown core.
The East Link to connect downtown with Fanshawe College will start next year and the Wellington Gateway is expected to begin in 2023. Council rejected a plan to extend BRT routes north and west of the city.
Plans for an underground sewer renewal will replace a 100-year-old infrastructure and will support expected growth in the area.
The project has received funding commitments from the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to support 10 transit and transit-supportive projects.
Construction will result in:
- curbside bus lanes with left-turn priority signal to improve traffic capacity and safety
- new sewers and watermains to accommodate future growth
- safer cycling routes on Dundas Place
The Dundas Street-TVP Connection will create a two-way protected bike lane on Dundas to help improve the link for pedestrians and cyclists between the TVP and downtown.