Ontario Construction News staff writer
Windsor’s $18 million Lauzon Parkway reconstruction project, a key infrastructure initiative transforming one of the city’s busiest roads achieved major milestones over the summer and fall, as phase three nears completion.
The reconstruction is designed to extend the road’s lifespan by 50 years, enhancing safety, traffic flow, and resilience to extreme weather.
Work completed this year includes substantial underground infrastructure upgrades, such as replacing aging sanitary sewers, installing additional stormwater storage pipes, and overhauling the watermain. The southbound lanes of Lauzon Parkway have also been completed.
Construction will resume in early 2025, focusing on completing the northbound lanes, as well as restoring the multi-use trail and boulevard areas. The project is expected to be completed by July 2025, weather permitting.
The Lauzon Parkway reconstruction is being carried out in three phases.
Phase 1, completed in 2022, rebuilt the north and southbound lanes from Tecumseh Road East to Hawthorne Drive at a cost of $2.6 million.
Phase 2, completed in 2023, focused on the section between the E.C. Row Expressway and Cantelon Drive, with a $5.5 million investment.
Each phase has included rebuilding concrete lanes, widening parts of the road to four lanes, and adding advanced drainage systems to reduce flooding. Additionally, the multi-use trail on the east side has been rebuilt, and the sidewalk on the west side replaced.
The Lauzon Parkway project is part of the city’s $5 billion Sewer and Coastal Flood Protection Master Plan, which involves $180 million in infrastructure upgrades across 36 sewer projects citywide. This plan aims to improve efficiency and reduce flooding risks, enhancing Windsor’s resilience against climate change.
Future plans include extending Lauzon Parkway from the E.C. Row Expressway to Cabana Road East, with a new connection to Highway 401. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is also planning a new highway interchange to connect Lauzon Parkway to the Gordie Howe International Bridge and the Right Honourable Herb Gray Parkway. These expansions will support Windsor’s ongoing growth and economic development, including key projects such as the Windsor/Essex Acute Care Hospital and the NextStar Energy EV battery plant.
“This project is part of a larger effort to improve infrastructure across the city and ensure our roads and sewers are ready for the future,” said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens. “The Ontario Budget recognizes the importance of expanding this vital corridor, and we are committed to making that vision a reality.”