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A $20-million facelift at one of Windsor’s busiest and most awkward intersections is underway.
Work to relocate a zig-zag across from Devonshire Mall where Howard Avenue, Division Road, and South Cameron Boulevard meet at sharp angles began on Monday.
The road alignment, which is currently “somewhat problematic from a sightline and visibility standpoint,” triggered the upgrades, said top city engineer David Simpson.
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“A lot of the work,” Simpson told the Star, “will basically correct and greatly improve the visibility throughout that corridor, and also make for much safer turning movements in and out of that very busy segment at Devonshire Mall.”
During the first phase of the two-phase project, a stretch of Howard from South Cameron to Kenilworth Drive closed for about four months. Only residents living in the construction zone will be permitted access.
The Howard closures will intermittently extend northward to Division Road.
The work should wrap up before the holiday shopping season.
After the holidays, construction will resume in early spring of 2025, with the final asphalt top coat installed in the spring of 2026.
The project, which includes water main and sewer installation, will eventually see the strange intersection sealed off and moved southeast to Sydney Avenue. Sydney and Division will meet at near-90-degree angles, and Sydney will be extended across the railway tracks to form a new intersection with Howard.
“Road closures are never overly popular,” Simpson said. “Obviously, there will be some short-term impact there, while we make those necessary improvements.
“Patience by residents and businesses will be very appreciated.”
When it comes to awkward intersections, Simpson said that “most municipalities have similar challenges,” with “a number of road corridors that may not necessarily be the best aligned.”
“Essentially, what we look at for any new infrastructure is following best management practices so we can minimize situations like this, where you have a very low-performing intersection from a level of service standpoint.”
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