London plans $270 million in infrastructure projects for 2024
The City of London plans to deliver $270 million worth of infrastructure projects in 2024.
The investments under the city’s Renew Construction Program mark a record-breaking year for construction.
They include essential transportation projects, sewer separation in the core and multiple phases of rapid transit, as well as improvements to more than 35 intersections, new bike lanes and sidewalks, and upgrades and improvements to aging underground infrastructure.
Also in 2024, both the Adelaide Street North Underpass and Victoria Bridge projects will open to traffic with the projects anticipated to wrap up by the fall.
“We are very excited to deliver these projects in 2024 that will bring long-term infrastructure improvements to support our rapidly growing city, and London’s vision towards a more sustainable and emissions-free community,” said Jennie Dann, the city’s director of construction and infrastructure services.
Every year, the city identifies its top 10 construction projects: those that have the greatest benefits, impacts and scope of work.
This year’s list includes intersection improvements at Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street, infrastructure renewal at York Street and Wellington Street, multiple rapid transit contracts and the Clark’s Bridge Widening, as well as other key projects across the city.
Adelaide Street North Underpass
The city continues to reconstruct Adelaide Street from Central Avenue to McMahen Street.
The project will install a new grade separation with the road passing beneath the railway, and will accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and vehicular traffic in a safe and efficient manner and improve mobility within the surrounding community.
Construction started in 2022 and will continue through 2024, with some planned carry-over work in 2025.
Wellington Gateway Phase 1 and Downtown Loop Phase 3
Two rapid transit projects that are currently underway on Wellington Street include the third phase of the Downtown Loop and Phase 1 of the Wellington Gateway project.
These projects will add new streetscape elements as well as transportation and transit improvements above ground, while repairing and replacing aging sewers, watermains and other underground infrastructure.
Both include the addition of a new bus-only lanes on Wellington Street from Queens Avenue to just north of the Thames River, enhanced rapid transit stops, new street lights and traffic signal upgrades, and underground infrastructure upgrades or replacements.
Construction of both projects is anticipated to be completed in 2024.
Clark's Bridge Widening (Wellington Gateway)
The Clark’s Bridge crosses the Thames River along Wellington Street/Road between South Street and Watson Street.
The project will widen Clark’s Bridge to accommodate travel demand and future rapid transit operations, while improving pedestrian and active transportation connections, and enhancing other transit and streetscape elements.
The new bridge will accommodate two general traffic lanes in each direction, two new transit-only lanes, and a multi-use pathway for people biking and walking on both sides of the bridge.
Construction will begin in the spring and will continue through 2025.
East London Link Phase 3
The East London Link project will revitalize more than six kilometers of road from downtown to Fanshawe College.
The project will add rapid transit and transportation improvements including transit links to the city’s eastern industrial employment areas, as well as new streetscape elements while repairing and replacing aging sewers, watermains and other underground infrastructure.
Phase 3 will be constructed in three sub-phases, starting with Phase 3C, which is already underway along Highbury Avenue North between Oxford Street and the north limit of the Highbury Avenue overpass. This project also extends along Oxford Street East between Wistow Street and east of the Highbury Avenue and Oxford Street intersection and is expected to be completed in December 2024, with some planned carry-over work in 2025.
Construction for Phase 3A West starts in March. Phase 3B along the Highbury Avenue Bridge is planned for construction in 2025.
Victoria Bridge
Victoria Bridge is located on Ridout Street South over the Thames River, south of Horton Street East, next to Thames Park.
The project will replace a 90-year-old bridge with a steel “through arch” structure that includes a widened deck surface that can better accommodate active transportation and a seamless connection to the Thames Valley Parkway.
York Street and Wellington Street Infrastructure Renewal
The project will replace aging underground infrastructure and remove existing combined sewers.
Construction will begin in April 2024 and is expected to last until November 2025, with some planned clean-up work in spring of 2026.
Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street Intersection Improvements
The project will reconstruct the intersection of Fanshawe Park Road and Richmond Street to improve safety and help accommodate existing and future travel demand.
Phase 1 was completed in 2023. Phase 2 is underway on Fanshawe Park Road between both ends of North Centre Road and is anticipated to be completed in fall of 2024.
Sunningdale Road and Richmond Street Intersection Improvements
The project will improve and widen the Sunningdale Road and Richmond Street intersection to accommodate existing and future travel demand. Construction is planned to begin in spring 2024.
Colonel Talbot Upgrades
The project will upgrade Colonel Talbot Road between Southdale Road West to James Street from the current 2-lane rural road with ditches and gravel shoulders, to a 2-lane urban road with concrete curbs and gutter. Construction is expected to start in spring 2024 and is anticipated to last until fall 2025, with some minor clean-up work and asphalt paving in spring 2026.
Wellington Gateway 3 and 4
The Wellington Gateway is the third rapid transit project to be constructed in London.
The project will add new streetscape elements as well as transportation and transit improvements above ground, while repairing and replacing aging sewers, watermains and other underground infrastructure.
Construction of phases 3 and 4 are planned to begin in summer 2024 and continue through 2025.