The Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority reversed a controversial decision Friday and is now committing to a “partial closure” during upcoming construction.
Sandwich Street between the tracks and Chappell Avenue will not be closed to all traffic, as previously proposed.
Councillor Fabio Costante and Windsor-West MP Brian Masse first raised the issue on Wednesday with a news conference.
After, Masse said he participated in “the worst meeting” he’s ever been involved in.
“But, it only increased the resolve to do what we had to,” said Masse Friday during a second news conference on the issue.
Masse had buttons made up that read, “Stop the Sandwich Towne shutdown,” and, “Respect the west end” to hand out with a leaflet he planned to take door-to-door to residents living on Prince Road.
By the end of the news conference, a statement was released by the WDBA, reversing their decision.
“The community’s voice is important to us,” Charl van Niekerk, Chief Executive Officer with the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) was quoted. “Although we see value in the full closure, over the last few days, WDBA and Bridging North America (BNA) have been working with the City of Windsor to review options that reflect the feedback we are hearing”
van Niekerk said BNA and the City of Windsor have agreed to a partial closure.
“It is anticipated that this closure will be 14 weeks in duration,” according to the news release.
A full closure would have seen construction concluded in approximately eight weeks.
Here are the traffic calming measures WDBA proposes:
- detours will be well signed
- radar speed signs will be in place
- traffic authorities will support enforcement as needed
- additional school crossing guards, funded by the City of Windsor, will be located at key intersections
Of note, trucking companies will be asked to use a modified detour route along College Avenue to Huron Church Road, in addition to the designated Prince Road detour, to further reduce traffic congestion through this specific area.
“With the partial closure of Sandwich [Street], we expect that approximately half of the traffic that currently travels through this section of Sandwich [Towne] will need to use this detour each day,” wrote van Niekerk.
CTV News was there when Costante and Masse learned of the change of heart, and they were clearly excited and surprised.
“I am feeling elated,” said Costante. “I'm feeling that, you know, they’ve heard. They're hearing the community's concerns.”
“I've got some flyers I have to recycle,” chuckled Masse. “Some buttons that become maybe some classic keepers.”
“When you don't work with community, the other key takeaway is the community fights back,” said Windsor-West MPP Lisa Gretzky who attended Friday’s news conference, but not Wednesday’s. “There's a lot of power in the voice of community. And it's so important that agencies like the WDBA and others remember that and include them in the process from the beginning.”
Construction on phase two of the Sandwich Street reconstruction will begin Tuesday, September 5.
