County Road 42 Now Open Following Roundabout Completion
Traffic in both directions on County Road 42 is now open following the completion of the roundabout at the new, realigned intersection of County Road 42 and County Road 43/Banwell Road in Tecumseh.
“We want to thank residents and businesses for their patience and understanding while we completed this vital infrastructure project – which was finished on budget and ahead of schedule. The opening of this roundabout will smooth the flow of commuter and commercial traffic in this vital corridor and is part of a multi-phase, multi-year project to accommodate increased traffic linked to generational investments like the new battery plant and regional hospital.” – Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald
The County of Essex awarded a $22-million contract to GIP for the Phase 2 construction of a concrete roundabout at the intersection of County Road 42 and County Road 43/Banwell Road. The realignment of County Road 43 from County Road 42 to the border with the City of Windsor. Work undertaken in Phase 2 includes the addition of multi-use trails, the installation of new storm sewers, watermains and road work on Concession Road 11 in Tecumseh.
A small section of County Road 42 was fully closed to traffic when the project commenced in mid-June.
Between four and six crews worked on the project to speed up the timeline and minimize the impact on residents and local businesses. The road opened ahead of schedule and there still may be intermittent closures. This is to allow for the installation of fixtures, like streetlights, that did not arrive in time to meet the accelerated timeline.
“I want to thank members of Essex County Council for supporting this vital infrastructure project, which will benefit the entire region, and I want to thank the Town of Tecumseh for their support and patience while this phase of the project progressed,” said MacDonald.
The multi-year, multi-phase project to enhance the County Road 42 corridor from the City of Windsor to County Road 19 increases road capacity and enhances neighbourhood connectivity. It includes widening County Road 42 to five lanes, building new roundabouts and constructing bicycle lanes, sidewalks and multi-use trails. The estimated cost of the entire project is $90 million to $100 million.
Phase 3 of the project includes the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of County Road 42 and County Road 19/Manning Road. As well as the reconstruction of County Road 42 from County Road 19 to Lesperance Road. The next phase, Phase 4 will see County Road 42 reconstructed from Lesperance Road to County Road 43. Phase 5, the final phase, involves the reconstruction of County Road 42 from County Road 43 to the City of Windsor.
Contracts for Phase 3 and Phase 4 of this project are expected to be put out to tender early in the New Year. Work is scheduled to start at County Road 19 and County Road 42 in the Spring of 2025.
