Burloak underpass set to arrive ahead of schedule for Oakville, Burlington

Oakville | Halton | Latest News | Transit |

By

Published June 23, 2022 at 11:50 am

The much anticipated Burloak Drive Grade Separation will be moving ahead following recent approval of a revised cost sharing agreement and timeline by Oakville Town Council and City of Burlington Council. METROLINX IMAGE

The Burloak underpass is “back on track” at a reduced cost and ahead of schedule for Oakville and Burlington.

After weeks of talks, a revised cost sharing agreement between Burlington, Oakville and Metrolinx for the Burloak Drive Grade Separation has been worked out that sees a reduction of the funding from the municipal partners to approximately $16 million each.

Back in February both Burlington and Oakville learned the much-needed infrastructure project would go ahead but at triple the planned cost.

At that time, the project had increased to $177.3 million from an initial estimate of $60 million and Metrolinx had requested Oakville and Burlington pay half of the increase in the project cost, or close to $45 million each instead of the agreed $15 million each.

The joint initiative will is now set to finish two months ahead of schedule and within the Town of Oakville’s original proposed budget.

“We are extremely pleased that Metrolinx was able to work with its municipal partners to get this critical infrastructure project back on track,” said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton.  “Collaboration at all levels of government is important in planning for safety and building a more livable future for our community.”

The new agreement will now see Metrolinx assume financial responsibility for utility work and track work, two major components of the overall project.

A revised timeline will also help stem costs for both municipalities with the project expected to two end two months ahead of schedule due to the closing of Burloak Drive, between Wyecroft Road and Superior Court, for 12 months.

This closure will take place near the end of construction and will also allow for majority of the roadworks to occur in unison instead of a sequenced approach. The project is estimated to be completed summer of 2027.

The new Burloak underpass will help ease traffic congestion at the Lakeshore West rail crossing on Burloak Drive, while creating safer roads for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and GO commuters.

The need for the underpass was first identified in a 1994 study by the City of Burlington.

Go Transit is planning to run 15-minute all-day service with eight trains crossing Burloak Drive every hour in addition to regular VIA and freight trains, making the underpass a critical project for Oakville and Burlington’s mobility.

 

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising