Closing major Mississauga intersection on short notice ‘unacceptable,’ businesses say

With one of Mississauga’s busiest intersections set to shut down for five days starting on Thursday, area businesses are accusing the provincial agency responsible for the full closure of showing “a lack of respect” by not providing enough notice to those impacted by the temporary disruption.

The Hurontario and Dundas streets intersection is being closed to traffic from June 11 to 15 to allow specific work to be completed on the $4.6-billion Hazel McCallion light-rail transit line.

When completed in 2028 or so, the Hazel McCallion Line will run 18 kilometres along Hurontario Street from south Mississauga north into downtown Brampton.

In a news release issued late Wednesday afternoon, the Cooksville Business Improvement Area said it has “serious concern” with the way the intersection closure is being handled by Metrolinx, the provincial organization overseeing the massive public transit project.

The BIA said it received final notice of the closure from Metrolinx last Friday at around 5 p.m., “after the BIA office had closed for the day.”

“Only days to prepare,” the BIA says

The notice left businesses and property owners “with only days to prepare for one of the most significant traffic disruptions in Cooksville,” the local business group continued. “This falls well short of the approximately two weeks’ notice that Metrolinx previously indicated would be provided for full intersection closures.

“Compounding the issue, the BIA had earlier been advised informally that the possible closure would occur on June 15 only to learn later, with short notice, that it would begin four days sooner. This stands in direct contrast to assurances previously provided by Metrolinx during community meetings.”

The Cooksville BIA, which is seeking an explanation from Metrolinx, went on to say “this is not simply a communication breakdown — it is a failure to respect the businesses and property owners who have been carrying the burden of construction impacts for years.

“Providing only a few days’ notice for the closure of one of Mississauga’s busiest intersections is unacceptable.”

Mississauga Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla, who represents the Cooksville area, said in the BIA’s news release most major intersections along the LRT corridor “have had only partial closures, with complete closures either overnight or just (lasting) a day or two.”

She added, “Cooksville, on the other hand, is facing an unprecedented five to 10 days of complete closure of the intersection. This level of closure merits reasonable notice period to businesses and residents, and extra efforts to work with the local community.”

INsauga.com has reached out to Metrolinx for comment, but has yet to hear back.

(Image: Metrolinx)

Earlier this week, City of Mississauga transit officials said the intersection closure means MiWay bus routes 1, 2, 101 and 103 will follow detours in the area over the course of the five days. Routes 1 and 101 take passengers east-west along Dundas Street while routes 2 and 103 travel north-south on Hurontario Street.

City officials also advise drivers in the area to “allow extra travel time and follow all detour signage” during the June 11-15 intersection closure. 

Four years behind schedule

The Hazel McCallion Line, under construction since 2020, is scheduled to be completed at some point in 2028 — which would put it nearly four years behind schedule.

Metrolinx updated the city on the well-behind-schedule initiative at a closed-door session in late April.

The mayor, city councillors and senior staff had long expressed frustration at project delays they’ve said are hurting businesses and testing drivers’ patience daily.

In an interview with INsauga.com in May, Mayor Carolyn Parrish said she and other city officials were told by Metrolinx the Hazel McCallion Line would be ready in 2028 to take its first passengers.

The new LRT line, which when completed will whisk riders from Port Credit GO station in south Mississauga north into Brampton along Hurontario Street, was initially to open in fall 2024.

However, the project has encountered various delays since that date was set.

When it opens to passengers, the Hazel McCallion Line will feature more than 20 stops along the route, including several in Mississauga’s downtown core by Square One. Metrolinx received the go-ahead from the province in February 2024 to extend the LRT line by three or four kilometres into downtown Brampton and reintroduce the “downtown loop” to the City Centre area of Mississauga. The latter component will add several stops to the route.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said earlier this year that extending the $4.6-billion Hazel McCallion Line from Hurontario Street into the busy and fast-growing downtown core of Mississauga will cost another $1.6 billion — the construction tab to be picked up by the provincial government.