The Municipality of Port Hope is temporarily closing Highland Drive – between the Jack Burger Sports Complex and the high school – to allow for “critical enhancements to our water main system.”
The temporary closure was in effect for Thursday and Friday – the closure is needed to ensure the safety of both the public and workers and construction crews, said the municipality.
“We have prioritized public safety and the efficiency of the construction, and after careful evaluation of the field conditions, maintaining even a single lane of open traffic during this phase of construction is not feasible at this time,” said the municipality, in a recent public notice.
Over the weekend, one lane on Highland Drive will be reopened.
“We will implement temporary traffic signals to aid in the management of traffic flow, ensuring that disruptions are minimized as much as possible,” added municipal officials.
During the closure period, officials are encouraging drivers to use a designated detour route via Jocelyn Street, Victoria Street, and Cavan Street, which are “well marked and provide efficient traffic movement around the temporary closure.”
Transit Route A will also be impacted and rerouted due to the closure, meaning the bus will not travel south on Cavan Street. Instead, it will turn west onto Jocelyn Street and then head south on Victoria Street.
Stops A24, A25, A26, and A27 (Jack Burger Sports Complex) will not be served during this period. The bus reroute will be reassessed after the weekend and staff said they will update the community on transit impacts.
“We appreciate your understanding and co-operation during this crucial project and recognize that the short notice of the closure is an inconvenience. Our team is committed to completing the work as quickly and safely as possible, and we are eager to restore normal traffic conditions as soon as possible.”
“Thank you for your patience and support in helping us improve the infrastructure and safety of our community,” the municipality told residents, while suggesting residents also refer to a municipal 511 map for road impact details.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
