March 30, 2005
Main Street West construction set to begin
Hamilton, ON - In early April, two construction projects along Main Street West will get underway to improve access to McMaster University and to Hamilton Health Sciences’ McMaster site.
The Main Street entrance reconstruction will improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, and upgrade the hospital’s emergency entrance and parking garage. As well, it will provide a more obvious entry to the University with enhanced signage, a gateway feature and landscaping. The project will include a new University Avenue and dedicated cycling lanes, and wider, wheelchair-accommodating sidewalks.
“Traffic delays will occur along this section of Main Street West throughout the summer,” says McMaster’s vice-president administration, Karen Belaire. “Those who travel in this area are encouraged to allow extra time, and check the project website http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/mainstreet/ for updates on the construction and related impacts on local traffic. I thank everyone for your patience and understanding throughout this project that will further enhance the University.”
Both projects commence on April 4th and will continue through to mid August: The City of Hamilton will reconstruct Main Street West between Cootes Drive and Gary Avenue.
The benefit of having the projects done simultaneously allows the work, timelines and costs to be co-ordinated most efficiently.
A major feature of the Main Street reconstruction will be the creation of a new intersection at Emerson Avenue. It will allow traffic from the University, McMaster University Medical Centre and the McMaster Children’s hospitals to go through a straightforward intersection process to turn in both directions onto Main Street. It will also be an uncomplicated intersection for Main Street traffic turning into the entrance for the University and the hospitals.
During the reconstruction, traffic will be reduced to two lanes in each direction along Main Street West between Cootes Drive and Gary Avenue. Emergency vehicles and patient drop-off at Hamilton Health Sciences hospitals will be given priority access.
Construction vehicles for the entrance project will enter and exit campus via the Cootes Drive entrance and follow College Crescent. Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to take extra caution.