Windsor-bound Highway 3 reopened after heat damage repairs

Two sections of the Windsor-bound Highway 3 were closed this Sunday between Malden Road and Ellis Side Road due to heat damage.

Essex County OPP said the roadway has "buckled due to the heat" and it was "considered unsafe to travel on."

The road was reopened by Monday morning after the asphalt was repaired.

The severity of the damage is unknown and ProvincialConst. Jim Root said he "can't speak to the cause or the specifics of the repair."

Environment Canada issued a heat warning on Friday for Windsor, Essex County and Leamington. That heat warning is still in place, and it's unclear if police areanticipating more buckling on other stretches of Highway 3.

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Humidex values are expected to reach 43 on Monday, according to the weather agency.

'Need for action is right now'

Highway 3 is a problematic roadway. Over the years, it has been the site of many collisions, which prompted discussions about twinning the road and widening the highway.

Just last Wednesday, a four-vehicle collision in the area of Cottaminjured multiple people, and the road had to be closed while police removed damaged cars from the roadway.

NDP MPPfor Essex, Taras Natyshak, said this most recent heat buckling event only makes the need for twinning and widening more urgent.

"I'm concerned that it hasn't happened yet," he said. "The need for talk is over, the need for action is right now."

However, it's not clear when the project will begin.

PC MPPfor Chatham-Kent-Leamington, Rick Nicholls, said last Wednesday that the new provincial government would need to do a financial audit first to find out how much debt Ontario has before moving forward on anything.

Nicholls reassured the project will happen, and he will be making his recommendations to the Minister of Transportation, John Yakabuski, who was sworn in last Friday.

Natyshaksaid Premier Doug Ford made campaign promises to twin the road and he's going to "hold him to his word."

"We'll continue to hold their feet to the fire and keep the pressure on them."