Rail crossing underpass construction begins on Barrhaven's Greenbank Road

Construction is underway on a railway crossing underpass in Barrhaven, a long-planned project thats taken on a new context after the fatal bus-train crash in 2013.

Crews have been working to set up a detour road and rail crossing to the east of the existing crossings at Greenbank Road in the citys west end, one of the busiest routes in Barrhaven.

On Saturday night, Greenbank Road will close for a $58 million project that is scheduled to be complete in 2017.

• Petition seeks Barrhaven rail crossing overpass or underpass
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"Well have a four-lane Greenbank (Road), which will be very good, with an underpass, said Barrhaven councillor Jan Harder.

The city said in an email the work will also include a multi-use pathway on the west side, a sidewalk on the east side and a noise barrier.

The project was in the works before the crash between a city bus and Via Rail train killed six people in September 2013, but a push to replace so-called "level crossings with underpasses or overpasses began shortly afterward.

Barrhaven resident Daljit Nirman started a petition asking the city to build an underpassor overpass at the FallowfieldRoadand said any traffic issues around Greenbank Road will be worth it.

"Any step by the city toward the residents safety is a welcome step, he said.

The new detour will open to traffic on Sunday afternoon.

The city said most of the work will be done by late fall 2016, with finishing work and landscaping ongoing until the summer of 2017.

It also said there are no other plans to change existing crossings.