New plan: Major Burlington/Oakville route will remain open to traffic during construction

Metrolinx has announced that instead of a lengthy closure of Burloak Drive, a detour will be put in place for drivers and pedestrians during the construction period.

The move is a major victory for motorists who feared traffic chaos for as long as 14 months when Metrolinx begins the process of building a bridge for trains on the road that divides Burlington and Oakville. The work is expected to begin sometime next year and take place between Harvester Road/Wyecroft Road and Prince William Drive/Superior Court.

“This approach directly reflects the community’s desire to minimize construction impacts, providing continued access on Burloak Drive for residents and local businesses,” said Metrolinx in a message to the community. It is the Ontario agency responsible for integrating transit systems in Southern Ontario

The four-lane detour will be put into place adjacent to the construction area to keep traffic moving.

The news was met with welcome relief by many who took to social media to express their views.

“Somebody listened to us! This is great news. I was dreading what traffic would be like through the year,” said one commentator on X.

Delays that have already taken place during initial construction proved to be too much of a headache for both Burlington and Oakville politicians who have lobbied Metrolinx to keep traffic moving through the area. Business owners on Burloak also feared that customers wouldn’t be able to reach their stores.

While the road will remain open, drivers will still face delays along Burloak as lane closures will take place to allow some of the work to be carried out.

The project is part of the plan to allow trains and cars to coexist in the area without interruptions. For trains the work will support more frequent two-way, all-day GO service on the Lakeshore West line.

For motorists is means the remaking of Burloak to improve the traffic flow once the project is finished. Traffic will flow under the bridge while trains pass overhead via the new bridge.

The project will also allow the expansion of Burloak to six lanes and create improvements to nearby routes such as Wyecroft Road, Harvester Road, Superior Court and Prince William Drive. The addition of turn lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes and improved connectivity for active modes of travel will also be included in this project.

Upgrades to the pedestrian bridge on Drury Lane are also planned.

Metrolinx says the project will provide the opportunity to electrify the train lines, allowing for more frequent train service.

The $177 million project is being led by Metrolinx, with Oakville and Burlington each supplying $16 million.