A significant milestone for the Washington Street upgrade project begins tomorrow – paving of the roadway and with it some new traffic delays.
City staff warn, the detour route around the closure will, at times, see longer delays than normal during paving operations which are scheduled to occur this Thursday and Friday, weather permitting.
The paving process will, according to city staff, require “different approaches to traffic control and detouring ” “to keep traffic off the new hot asphalt so the mat is not damaged and provided sufficient time to cool prior to re-establishing the regular detour route.”
As a result, drivers can expect significant delays and backups around project area. According to an email from Public Works staff,
Click for more information
Click for more informationDrivers are encouraged to utilize alternate east/west routes, including Main Street, Slater and Grandview Roads as paving operations will cause significant delays and backups for those travelling in the vicinity of Washington Street at Second and Third Avenues and Vista Drive.
Due to drivers using alternate routes, drivers can expect heavier traffic on Slater Road, Main Street and Portal Way.
City staff advise,
… leaving early, paying attention to the flaggers and construction signage, having patience and/or avoiding the area as much as possible.
Washington Street is expected to reopen the first part of October (a conservative estimate since much is dependent on the weather).