One of the worst roads in Windsor is about to receive a major facelift.

On June 17, Mayor Drew Dilkens and 8 Councillor Gary Kaschak announced an investment of more than $8 million over the next 16 months to substantially rebuild the road.

Lauzon Parkway is one of the most heavily used roads in the city’s network. About 30,000 vehicles, including heavy trucks, use the road daily on the way to or from the E.C. Row Expressway. The parkway is also considered one of the worst roads in the city. In 2021, it topped the list of worst roads in the city in the Canadian Automobile Association’s annual Worst Roads campaign.

“Lauzon Parkway is being transformed into one of our city’s premier motor vehicle and active transportation corridors,” said Dilkens. “The City of Windsor continues to make tremendous progress in fixing and rebuilding our roads as part of council’s commitment to prioritize and improve the quality, safety and durability of our transportation infrastructure.”

The city funding aims to renew the road in three phases.

Phase one, which is underway, sees the reconstruction of Lauzon Parkway from Tecumseh Road East to E.C. Row Expressway, with the bulk of the work expected to be completed by the end of 2022. 

Work is now underway by SheaRock Construction Group under a $2.6-million contract. The scope of work includes: reconstructing seven lanes of concrete road, three northbound and three southbound, with some parts widening to four lanes, installing an open-graded drainage layer beneath the road’s surface to improve drainage of excess water to minimize flooding and improve road performance, rebuilding the multi-use trail on the east side of the parkway, and replacing about 250 metres of the concrete sidewalk on the west side.

Phase 2, valued at about $5.5 million, is expected to get underway in early 2022 to rebuild the north and southbound lanes of Lauzon Parkway from the E.C. Row Expressway to Cantelon Drive. 

Phase 1 construction was originally scheduled to start in 2024 but was fast-tracked due to the availability of funding advanced through the City’s Asset Management Plan.

“Lauzon Parkway is one of the busiest roads in Ward 8. It provides a key link to the E.C. Row Expressway from Tecumseh Road, Wyandotte Street and Riverside Drive,” said Kaschak. “I am proud of council’s commitment to fast-tracking this project to rebuild Lauzon Parkway to make it safer and more reliable for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.”

The 2021 City of Windsor Budget approved a 10-year $1.6-billion capital plan for infrastructure investment. This year, 60 percent of the capital budget is committed to fixing and improving Windsor’s roads and sewers, investing $50.2 million in roads and $51.2 million toward upgrading the city’s sewers. 

Featured image: Construction on Lauzon Parkway (City of Windsor)