Traffic ‘nightmare’ continuing in Oshawa with multiple long-term road closures for highway work

Oshawa residents who are already dealing with a two-year closure by Metrolinx of a portion of Simcoe Street for GO train expansion are now facing additional road closures in the area to accommodate Highway 401 widening that will create a traffic “nightmare” for the next 16 months or so.

The province is replacing the highway overpass structures at Park Road and Cubert Street, forcing the closure of Cubert – an important secondary road connecting Bloor Street to the residential neighbourhood to the north – and a section of Park – a major connection to the GM Assembly plant – until the fall of 2027.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO), in an email to Oshawa councillors, said the work was originally scheduled for next year but has moved up, with Cubert Street to be closed starting Monday and Park – from Bloor Street to College Avenue – to shut down to traffic beginning July 13. A weekend closure of Park Road is also happening June 27-28.

“This email is to advise of a change in the timing of the road closures required for the Ministry of Transportation project to replace the Cubert St. and Park Rd. S. Highway 401 overpass structures as part of the Highway 401 rehabilitation and long-term widening needs.”

Lane closures on Bloor Street may also occur to accommodate this work as the Ontario government replaces the overpasses in Oshawa to accommodate the future widening of Highway 401 to 10 lanes.

“The nightmare continues and neither MTO nor Metrolinx has any concern about how their decisions impact our city and its residents,” said Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson. “It is time for Premier Ford and his government to step in a stop this assault on our community,” said Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson.

Nicholson said city staff are working with the ministry to provide recommendations on a detour routes for vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the shutdown.

Oshawa Councillor Brian Nicholson

The ministry also has a plan to provide notice to all emergency responders and notify residents through “variable message boards” two weeks in advance for Park Road and one week in advance for Cubert Street, as well as road signage. Plans also include post-closure information on the Ontario 511 website and notification by flyers distributed to property owners.

Nicholson, who provided the email from the ministry on his socials, said Oshawa staff “recognize that this work will occur alongside several other significant, long-term transportation disruptions already affecting the city” and have “raised concerns”  about the simultaneous closures.

Another concurrent project happening in the area that is contributing to traffic headaches include the Wilson Road overpass replacement that has forced drivers to deal with the full closure of Wilson from Dieppe Avenue to Bloor Street until the late spring of 2027, also part of the highway widening program.

“While I appreciate staff reaching to get more information on the provincial disruptions in our community, once again we are being told not asked, Nicholson said. “It is my view that had we not asked our staff to reach out, neither MTO nor Metrolinx would have told us anything until the roads closed.

The councillor is encouraging unhappy residents to contact Ford’s office to let him know what they think of the disruptions.