For release - August 10, 2005
Windsor, ON - The City of Windsor is moving, ahead this fall with the construction of a grade separation on Walker Road at the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks which will bring Walker road underneath the railroad tracks. The purpose of this project is to eliminate traffic delays due to trains passing at the existing at-grade crossing.
The following release is provided as a service to visitors of the Transport Canada web site. The original can be found at www.citywindsor.ca.
Once finished in 2008, the grade separation will further enhance transportation and efficiency for both rail and motor vehicle traffic along these routes. It will significantly improve roadway capacity and safety through the construction of a five-lane cross section on Walker Road, additional turning lanes, and extended cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways. This project will also improve the movement of goods for "just-in-time" deliveries to the many businesses and production plants along this key trade corridor. When this project is completed, there will be fewer traffic delays on Walker Road since rail and road traffic will no longer conflict. This will improve Windsor's air quality.
"I am pleased that construction will soon begin on this project," said Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre. "These improvements are key to enhancing not only safety but the capacity to move goods quickly and efficiently through this important trade corridor."
The Walker Road grade separation project will eliminate delays for cars and trucks caused by train traffic, which are expected to increase as a result of the installation of the VACIS (Vehicle And Cargo Inspection System) facility. The VACIS operation requires trains to reduce speed while being scanned. CPR is creating a high-security corridor through Windsor on the approach to the international railway tunnel, which in conjunction with the installation of freight-car scanning equipment owned and operated by Customs and Border Protection agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (CBP), is required to improve border security. Due to railway tunnel operating restrictions it is impossible to situate scanning equipment at the exact border point. VACIS, which will be located just east of Walker Road and the CPR tracks, and will be in full operation in the fall of 2005.
Through a combination of rail car scanning and video-based surveillance, the Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service, the Canada Border Services Agency and the CBP will ensure that the railway approach to the Detroit River railway tunnel will be among the most secure trade corridors in the world.
As each U.S. bound train is inspected, it will pass through a corridor where suspicious objects or movements will be detected. New security infrastructure and procedures will ensure that nothing unexpected is inside a train, and that no activity goes undetected outside. CPR police officers will be stepping up trespass and crime prevention activities, warning people against unauthorized intrusion into the high-security corridor.
Helping to maintain the new level of border security is an expanded detachment of railway police officers in Windsor, who work in co-operation with municipal, provincial, state and federal police and security forces on both sides of the border.
The City will continue with a Class Environmental Assessment and preliminary design process for a grade separation at the Howard Avenue rail crossing. Once approvals have been obtained, detailed design would begin at once but construction would not begin prior to the completion of the Walker Road project.
A public information session has been set for August 11th at the Fogolar Furlan Club (2:00 p.m. - 8:00p.m.). This information session will be attended by representatives from the City, Canadian Pacific Railway, CBP and engineers from Dillon Consulting, the firm hired to manage the project. The public will have an opportunity to hear more about this project and to ask questions.
"With increasing traffic on Walker Road and the introduction of the VACIS system, a grade separation at this pivotal juncture is critical," explains Wade Bondy, P.Eng, Infrastructure Engineer. "The border infrastructure funding, made available by the Federal and Provincial governments, provides a unique opportunity for the City to capitalize on these funds to support this much needed road improvement project," he adds.
The construction project will affect Walker Road from Parkdale Place to St. Julien Avenue and is expected to take two years to complete once construction of the grade separation commences. There are advance utility relocation work and property acquisition requirements that must be completed prior to the construction of the grade separation. During the various construction phases there will be lane restrictions. It will be necessary to close Walker Road by early Winter of 2007 through to Fall 2008.
"The public will have the opportunity to obtain detailed information about this project and ask any questions they may have at the upcoming public information sessions. Information will also be readily available through the various media outlets, on the City of Windsor website, and targeted stakeholder meetings as required," reports Bondy. For further information on the Walker Road/CP Grade Separation project, Wade Bondy, P.Eng. Infrastructure Engineer, at 255-6351 Ext. 6145.
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