It’s going to be harder to make left turns on the busiest street in Mississauga and Brampton

Drivers travelling on Hurontario St. in Mississauga and Brampton are no longer allowed to make left turns without a traffic light under a new plan to make the busiest road in Peel safer.

Metrolinx, the provincial agency in charge of the huge Mississauga-Brampton Hurontario light rail transit (LRT) project, says the new road rules take effect immediately as work continues on the 18-kilometre route.

The restrictions on left turns and U-turns will remain in place once the Port Credit-to-Brampton LRT is completed in fall 2024.

“There will be restrictions on U-turns and left turns in specific areas as work progresses for the light rail transit project in the middle of Hurontario St.,” Metrolinx officials say.

“These restrictions are here to stay along Hurontario St. once the new transit line is complete, where the ‘right-in, right-out’ approach will be implemented, with left turns prohibited at unsignalized cross-streets and driveways.”

Drivers must enter and leave driveways along Hurontario St. via right turns only. (Image: Metrolinx)

Both Metrolinx and Mobilinx, the project constructor, say the new restrictions on left turns and U-turns will make the road safer for everyone by reducing the number of collisions.

“Prohibiting left turns improves the operations of the line, increases safety for all and regulates traffic efficiency by using physical barriers, such as traffic islands and curb protections,” said Afzal Memon, Metrolinx senior project manager of rapid transit.

The “right-in, right-out” approach means drivers must enter or leave properties and businesses along Hurontario St. via right turns only, “…ultimately reducing the potential for collisions along the line.”

The new approach means the busy route can accommodate more traffic more safely and with fewer delays, project officials say.

“Right-in, right-out allows for orderly traffic management in and out of properties along Hurontario,” said Ron Stewart, traffic management manager at Mobilinx. “Left turns and U-turns will be allowed and managed only at signalized intersections to keep traffic moving in a safe and orderly fashion.”

As work continues on the LRT route, which when completed will take passengers from Port Credit GO in the south all the way north into Brampton, crews are concentrating efforts in south Mississauga.

Specifically, they’re pouring concrete at Port Credit GO station, which will be the southernmost point on the route, and doing work at nearby Mary Fix Creek to protect and enhance the natural area.

At Mary Fix Creek, Metrolinx says “workers are expanding and revitalizing the creek bed as part of the project. The creek provides flood protection and prevents erosion in the Port Credit area.”

When work on the creek is completed, crews will replant more trees “in order to enhance local biodiversity, as part of Metrolinx’s landscape plan,” officials say.

As the lone underground stop on the route, Port Credit GO saw a significant amount of prep work in 2021, and tunneling work continues there this year.

When it opens to riders in a couple of years, the Hazel McCallion Line will feature 19 stops along the route.

The Hurontario LRT will link to GO stations at Port Credit and Cooksville, the Mississauga Transitway, Square One GO Bus Terminal, Brampton Gateway Terminal, and key MiWay and Brampton Transit routes. 

Metrolinx says the initiative is part of its long-term vision for an integrated, sustainable transit network connecting the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.