Banwell Road, E.C. Row Expressway overpass on and off ramp construction to start in summer

With an anticipated increase in traffic when the NextStarbattery plant opens next year, the City of Windsor is going ahead with plans to upgrade the intersection at Banwell Road and the E.C. Row Expressway.

An $80 million projectis planned for the area which will include a $30 million overpass and work on the road from the interchange to the CP Rail tracks. The city is spending $5 million this year to build the on and off ramps to the overpass.

Acting city engineer Mark Winterton said the work is needed because there has already been heavy traffic at the intersection.

He saidtalks are well underway with the province seekingfundsfor the project.

"I had a meeting just in early or mid-December with the minister of transportation folks and we were talking about major infrastructure in the City of Windsor, and they are very much aware of the need for a grade separation at this location," said Winterton.

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Winterton said the city planned for expansion in the east end back in 2016 when an environmental assessment was done on the intersection. It called for a new overpass back then, even without the battery plant in the works.

Windsor-Tecumseh PC MPP Andrew Dowiesaid he has been pushing for provincial dollars for the new interchange,and that hehas made the case to the previous minister of transportation, and the current one:Prabmeet Sarkaria.

"I've made every possible effort to advocate for some attention at this intersection," said Dowie.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkenshasalso been advocatingthe province to assume responsibility for the entire expressway. Dowiesaid he sees the logic in that argument, but says there are pros and cons tohaving Ontariotake it over.

"We have a corridor here that is vital for the economy of the province," he said, adding that making the change wouldadd a layer ofbureaucracy to any development around it.

"When you bring in MTO permits and an MTOjurisdiction, that makes it a lot more difficult to build the surrounding area," he said.

"There's a reason why sometimes the local municipality is the better government for it because once you bring an MTOpermits, it slows everything down."

Winterton said the work on the ramps will begin this summer. Dowie couldn't say when the province will make any decisions on funding.