Jake Romphf
Reconstruction on Highway 40 needed to facilitate a $2.2-billion expansion at Nova Chemicals will continue into next year, officials say.
“It’s a complete reconstruction of the highway from Petrolia (Line) to Rokeby,” said Bob McMann, the Ontario transportation ministry’s on-site administrator.
Turn lanes from the southbound highway onto Rokeby and Petrolia Line are also being lengthened and strengthened to accommodate vehicles, parts and heavy equipment entering the plant.
The $14.1-million highway contact has been awarded to Amico Infrastructures Inc., the MTO said.
Drivers using Highway 40 from LaSalle Line to Rokeby can expect construction and lane reductions for another three months.
McMann said the road is old and in poor condition. A base layer of asphalt should be in place by the end of November, and crews will return next spring to lay the finish asphalt layer.
Traffic is currently reduced to one lane in each direction on the northbound side of the highway. When the southbound lanes are complete traffic will be switched.
Nova is preparing to build a new petrochemical plant and expand existing operations near Corunna in what’s been called the largest capital investment in Sarnia-Lambton’s history.
The $2.2-billion project is expected to create 150 full-time manufacturing jobs, up to 1,400 construction jobs, and years of skilled trades employment.
The company is undertaking several paving projects on Rokeby that will continue into October.
Ontario and NOVA have worked out a cost sharing agreement for the highway work but specifics are not being disclosed.