This Windsor road has been under construction for 6 years. It's finally open again

After more than six years of construction, Cabana Road in Windsor is finally complete.

While the wait time for the road was a lengthy one, City of Windsor engineer Mark Winterton said the project was completed on timeand on budget.

"We've been very lucky with the weather this year and have been able to extend our construction season where we might have previously had to shut down," he said.

Winterton said the mild weather the past few months helped construction on the road, which runs from Dominion Boulevard to Highway 3, wrap up faster.

WATCH:After 6 long years, construction on Windsor's Cabana Road is complete

After 6 long years, construction on Windsor's Cabana Road is complete

9 months ago

Duration 1:54

It's been a long six years for the residents near Cabana Road in Windsor, but construction on the road is finally complete. Resident Mike Stach tells CBC's Mike Evans he's thrilled but is vary about an increase in traffic. City engineer Mark Winterton says the construction finished this year thanks to the mild winter weather.

The project began almost seven years ago, but planning started in 2016. The project has had multiple phases, including the construction of a new storm sewer system and a refurbishment of the existing waste sewer, an important upgradeafterflooding in 2017.

Winterton said the storm drains were smaller before the upgrade, and most excess water ran into ditches alongside the road.

"We put in some bigger pipes and I think that should help mitigate some of the storm runoff," he said.

Resident concerned road will be used as 'expressway'

Improvements include wider lanes, a bike lane, new curbs and a smooth, repaved roadwhich resident Mike Stach says are welcome changes.

Stach said he has struggled with parking near home while the construction has been ongoing, so it's"nice to have the drivewayback."

But he said he and his neighbours are concerned aboutCabana Road becoming "an expressway."

"If the same amount of people are using the corridor, I think it's going to be fine. It's going to alleviate stress because it flows much better, but I think time will tell about volume increases and stuff like that," he said.

Winterton said the improvements to the street will make it easier for traffic to move down Cabana Road, but Windsor police will keep an eye out for speeding.

"We'll be monitoring it with speed cameras and also potentially red light cameras to make sure people slow down at the proper time," he said.

Site of 'mega hospital' close to Cabana Road

Cabana Road turns intoCounty Road 42, as it heads east toward Sandwich Southnear the plannedacute care hospital, which Winterton said scheduled to start construction in 2026.

Wintertonsaid regardless of the hospital being built in the area,thecompletion of Cabana Road was important to provide an arterial road running from east to west.

"This is a significant project and it benefits certainly anybody in the South Windsor area, but all Windsor residents," he said.