Drivers will need to pack their patience later this month when city crew begin to resurface the Red Hill Valley Parkway (RHVP).
The City of Hamilton says closures will be in effect starting May 21 while new “high quality asphalt” is laid down.
The RHVP resurfacing project was expedited after a buried report about slippery conditions on the RHVP was uncovered. The 2013 report disclosed the results from a special road friction test which found friction levels along the busy parkway were below standards. City officials say staff only became aware of the report in late 2018.
Back in February, the speed limit on the RHVP was reduced to 80 km/h from 90 km/h between Greenhill Ave. and the QEW. At the time, the city announced additional ongoing and planned upgrades including digital feedback signs, flashing beacons on slippery when wet signs, a Q-end warning system and advance diagrammatic and lane exit signs.
On Monday, the city said the resurfacing project will bring other “safety enhancements” to the parkway, including 10 km of new steel guardrails with reflectors, bright and durable lane markings, concrete barrier mounted reflective delineators on curves, and rumble strips.
Construction is set to begin on the northbound (downbound) lanes at 9 p.m. on May 21. All lanes will be completely closed between the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway (Linc) at Mud St./Stone Church Rd. and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) for three weeks.
The city says an exact start date has yet to be determined for construction on the southbound lanes. It is slated to begin in mid-June and will last roughly three weeks. The lane closures will be announced five to seven days before it begins.
The city says staff will be monitoring traffic on city streets during the closures and will make changes to signal timing to avoid serious gridlock.
“Approximately 70,000 cars use the RHVP each day. Given the parkway will be completely closed in one direction at a time throughout construction, 35,000 cars will be re-routed onto the emergency detour route or other streets in Hamilton,” said city officials in a statement.
The lane markings and signal timings at the intersection of Mud St. and Upper Centennial Pkwy. will be changed to accommodate additional traffic.
The closures are anticipated to cause delays with the HSR. Riders are advised to check the HSR website for information about detours and impacts.
For more information about the RHVP resurfacing project, click here.