Traffic delays, other disruptions common as major LRT line built in Mississauga

Traffic delays and extra noise at a busy Mississauga intersection next to Square One Shopping Centre over the past few months have come to an end — at least at one particular location.

Temporary disruptions that were expected to last from May 21 through July 15 at and around Hurontario Street and Square One Drive (see map below), just south of Highway 403, lasted longer than anticipated and were completed in early September.

Ongoing traffic and other disruptions around Square One are necessary as crews complete work on the $4.6-billion Hazel McCallion light-rail transit line. The 22-kilometre Mississauga-to-Brampton LRT route will whisk passengers from Port Credit GO in south Mississauga north into Brampton along Hurontario Street when it opens, likely sometime in 2025.

The latest tasks crews have been working on involve the welding of tracks and completing concrete work for installation of the guideway that will carry the trains.

Meanwhile, lane closures implemented so work could be done at Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road — to the southeast of Square One and among the city’s busiest intersections — were expected to be lifted and the lanes reopened on Thursday night.

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Metrolinx, the provincial agency in charge of the massive transit project, has not yet responded to an inquiry from INsauga.com to clarify whether or not the Hurontario Street/Burnhamthorpe Road work has been completed on schedule.

Back in July, Metrolinx officials said motorists, businesses and area residents could expect temporary lane closures, restricted turning areas, added noise and other disruptions at that busy intersection starting July 11 and continuing until Sept. 19.

Metrolinx officials said in an online project update this week track work was completed at the Hurontario Street/Square One Drive intersection earlier this month. 

They added similar work south of the QEW, at Mineola Road, was completed and the intersection fully reopened in late August.

Map shows work area at Hurontario Street and Burnhamthorpe Road (Image: Metrolinx)

Similar work on other sections of Hurontario Street has been carried out over the past year or so and will continue for the rest of 2024 and into next year as crews work to get the Hazel McCallion Line finished..

When completed, the Hazel McCallion Line will feature more than 20 stops along the route, including several in Mississauga’s downtown core by Square One.

Metrolinx received the go-ahead from the province in early February to extend the LRT line by three or four kilometres into downtown Brampton and reintroduce the “downtown loop” to the City Centre area of Mississauga. The latter component will add several stops to the route.