Major Thorold Tunnel repairs to begin in August

Commuters making regular use of the Thorold Tunnel may want to consider another route as repairs to the tunnel begin mid-August.

Preliminary construction on Highway 58 westbound is scheduled to begin Aug. 17 and run until Nov. 14, at which point the work will stop for the winter, said a news release from Aecon Group Inc.

The westbound side of the tunnel will be reduced to a single lane for the duration of the work. A temporary concrete barrier is scheduled for Aug. 23 to separate traffic from the construction zone. In addition, 18 full tunnel closures are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1 to Aug. 27. The closures will occur Monday to Friday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., said the release.

Katrina Lalor, senior issues adviser at the Ministry of Transportation, said in an email that the cost of the construction contract is $15.8 million.

She said the work will include sealing joints and cracks in the tunnels, installing a snow melting system, addressing pavement drainage and storm sewer systems, and upgrading lighting, electrical control and lane control signals.

The work in August is just the first step in the three-year tunnel replacement, said contract administrator Joe Lascala.

In April 2019, Highway 58 eastbound is scheduled to be reduced to one lane.

Lascala said the work will again stop for winter on Nov. 15 before starting up again in April 2020. He said the entire project should be completed by 2020-21.

Drivers will be informed of road closures with three portable variable signs, which will be placed along Highway 406 before the end of July. During periods of full tunnel closure, detour routes will be posted, said the press release.

A shuttle bus will also be provided for pedestrians who would normally walk on the side walk through the tunnel. The shuttle is scheduled to arrive every 10 minutes, Lascala said.

Lalor said the impacts to drivers should be minor.

“The planned closures were kept to a minimum and during off-peak hours,” she said.