The 410 widening starts in March. The detours start now.
Four years of construction on the city's spine begins with lane closures this winter — and a traffic plan that leans hard on streets that are already full.
The province has confirmed a March start for the widening of Highway 410 through the middle of the city — one additional lane each way plus rebuilt interchanges, staged over four construction seasons. The first overnight lane closures begin this winter, which means the practical start date is now.
Nobody disputes the need. The 410 is Brampton's spine, and it fails on schedule twice a day; the widening has been on the regional wish list since the lanes it adds would have been sufficient. The dispute is about the four years in the middle, when the highway carries construction staging on top of its existing overload.
The traffic management plan routes diverted trips onto Kennedy, Dixie and Bramalea — arterials that, residents pointed out at the public session, do not currently have spare capacity to receive a highway's overflow. The province's consultants project "manageable delay increases." The people who drive Kennedy at 8 a.m. project otherwise, with more confidence and better local data.
The Bulletin will publish the closure schedule each week for the duration — a small service for a long project. Clip it, or better, check it before you leave. The first weekend closure is the last one anybody will be surprised by.
