Drivers travelling through the downtown will have another traffic snarl to contend with for the next six weeks.
Beginning on Monday, the intersection of Queens Avenue and Richmond Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic. The closure is to allow for continued construction of the bus rapid transit Downtown Loop. The intersection is expected to remain closed until mid-August.
The intersection of Queens Ave. and Richmond St. will be closed for six-weeks starting July 4, 2022. Map courtesy of the City of London.
“During this time, motorists travelling westbound on Queens Avenue will be detoured to York Street via Wellington Street. Southbound traffic on Richmond Street will be detoured to Dufferin Avenue, Wellington Street and York Street to navigate around the closure,” city officials said in a statement. “Signs will be installed to help drivers navigate the area.”
In order for people to access nearby properties and municipal parking lot #5 during the closure, Queens between Richmond and Clarence streets will temporarily allow two-way traffic.
Throughout the closure, pedestrians will still be able to use the sidewalk and cyclists are being encouraged to use Dundas Place as an alternative route.
The city recommends anyone visiting the downtown plan ahead by using navigation tools such as Waze and Google Maps or by visiting the Renew London website to avoid other routes that may also be impacted by ongoing construction.
The Downtown Loop, the first of London’s bus rapid transit projects, adds dedicated bus lanes and enhanced transit stops to streets. Phase 1 of the project was built last year on King Street between Ridout and Wellington Streets. Phase 2, which got underway in March, will be done in four stages and should be completed by December. The final phase of the Downtown Loop is planned for next year on Wellington Street between Queens Avenue and York Street.
