The following release is provided as a service to visitors of the Transport
Canada web site. The original can be found at
www.citywindsor.ca.
For release August 10, 2005
PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
UPDATE ON WALKER ROAD/CPR CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT & IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VACIS FACILITY
Windsor, ON – The City of Windsor is moving, ahead this fall with the
construction of a grade separation on Walker Road at the Canadian Pacific
Railway tracks which will bring Walker road underneath the railroad tracks. The
purpose of this project is to eliminate traffic delays due to trains passing at
the existing at-grade crossing.
Once finished in 2008, the grade separation will further enhance
transportation and efficiency for both rail and motor vehicle traffic along
these routes. It will significantly improve roadway capacity and safety through
the construction of a five-lane cross section on Walker Road, additional turning
lanes, and extended cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways. This project will
also improve the movement of goods for "just-in-time" deliveries to the many
businesses and production plants along this key trade corridor. When this
project is completed, there will be fewer traffic delays on Walker Road since
rail and road traffic will no longer conflict. This will improve Windsor’s air
quality.
"I am pleased that construction will soon begin on this project," said
Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre. "These improvements are key to enhancing
not only safety but the capacity to move goods quickly and efficiently through
this important trade corridor."
The Walker Road grade separation project will eliminate delays for cars and
trucks caused by train traffic, which are expected to increase as a result of
the installation of the VACIS (Vehicle And Cargo Inspection System) facility.
The VACIS operation requires trains to reduce speed while being scanned. CPR is
creating a high-security corridor through Windsor on the approach to the
international railway tunnel, which in conjunction with the installation of
freight-car scanning equipment owned and operated by Customs and Border
Protection agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (CBP), is
required to improve border security. Due to railway tunnel operating
restrictions it is impossible to situate scanning equipment at the exact border
point. VACIS, which will be located just east of Walker Road and the CPR tracks,
and will be in full operation in the fall of 2005.
Through a combination of rail car scanning and video-based surveillance, the
Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service, the Canada Border Services Agency and
the CBP will ensure that the railway approach to the Detroit River railway
tunnel will be among the most secure trade corridors in the world.
As each U.S. bound train is inspected, it will pass through a corridor where
suspicious objects or movements will be detected. New security infrastructure
and procedures will ensure that nothing unexpected is inside a train, and that
no activity goes undetected outside. CPR police officers will be stepping up
trespass and crime prevention activities, warning people against unauthorized
intrusion into the high-security corridor.
Helping to maintain the new level of border security is an expanded
detachment of railway police officers in Windsor, who work in co-operation with
municipal, provincial, state and federal police and security forces on both
sides of the border.
The City will continue with a Class Environmental Assessment and preliminary
design process for a grade separation at the Howard Avenue rail crossing. Once
approvals have been obtained, detailed design would begin at once but
construction would not begin prior to the completion of the Walker Road project.
A public information session has been set for August 11th at the Fogolar
Furlan Club (2:00 p.m. – 8:00p.m.). This information session will be attended by
representatives from the City, Canadian Pacific Railway, CBP and engineers from
Dillon Consulting, the firm hired to manage the project. The public will have an
opportunity to hear more about this project and to ask questions.
"With increasing traffic on Walker Road and the introduction of the VACIS
system, a grade separation at this pivotal juncture is critical," explains Wade Bondy, P.Eng, Infrastructure Engineer. "The border infrastructure funding, made
available by the Federal and Provincial governments, provides a unique
opportunity for the City to capitalize on these funds to support this much
needed road improvement project," he adds.
The construction project will affect Walker Road from Parkdale Place to St. Julien Avenue and is expected to take two years to complete once construction of
the grade separation commences. There are advance utility relocation work and
property acquisition requirements that must be completed prior to the
construction of the grade separation. During the various construction phases
there will be lane restrictions. It will be necessary to close Walker Road by
early Winter of 2007 through to Fall 2008.
"The public will have the opportunity to obtain detailed information about
this project and ask any questions they may have at the upcoming public
information sessions. Information will also be readily available through the
various media outlets, on the City of
Windsor website, and
targeted stakeholder meetings as required," reports Bondy. For further
information on the Walker Road/CP Grade Separation project, Wade Bondy, P.Eng.
Infrastructure Engineer, at 255-6351 Ext. 6145.
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