Let’s Learn About Roundabouts

this issue Learn About Roundabouts

SEPTEMBER2012

Everywhere Signs

Windsor-Essex Parkway construction crews have been working hard this summer at the east end of the Parkway to complete the new Howard Avenue Diversion and roundabout. The new multi-lane roundabout will connect Highway 401 on/off ramps, Highway 3 and the Howard Avenue Diversion (County Road 9). It is anticipated that these Parkway features will open to traffic soon.

Through our consultation events and calls to our offices we understand there are a lot of questions about the roundabout and how to use it. In response to this please read on to learn more about this exciting Parkway feature.

Rules for Roundabouts

1. Slow down as you approach the roundabout. Keep to the right of the Splitter Island.

2. Use the correct lane for your intended destination.

3. Pay special attention to pedestrians who may be crossing the roadway. (Note: the Parkway roundabout does not include pedestrian crosswalks.)

4. Watch for vehicles already in the roundabout.

5. Traffic in the roundabout always has the right-of-way. Entering vehicles must always yield.

6. Enter the roundabout when there is an adequate gap in the circulating traffic.

7. In the roundabout, keep to the right of the Central Island and travel in a counter-clockwise direction.

8. Do not stop, pass large vehicles or change lanes within the roundabout.

9. Use your right-turn signal when exiting the roundabout.

10. If you miss your exit, continue around the roundabout again and exit.

Large VehiclesLarge vehicles may need to use more than one lane when approaching, within and exiting the roundabout. Within the roundabout, large vehicles may also need to use the Truck Apron. Give large vehicles plenty of room to navigate within the roundabout.

Emergency VehiclesIf you have not yet entered the roundabout, pull over to the right if possible and allow the emergency vehicle to pass you. If you are in the roundabout, take your intended exit and proceed beyond the Splitter Island before pulling over to the right to allow the emergency vehicle to pass you. Never stop inside the roundabout.

Watch for more information on roundabout learning opportunitiesand community events by visiting us at www.weparkway.ca.

Zero Incidents

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WEMG people profile

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs

Raising the Roof

Take a Guess P.3

Soon the newly built Howard Avenue Diversion and round-about will open to traffic. As you approach this new section of the completed Parkway, here are some signs to watch for and what they mean.

Slow down, the roundabout is 300m ahead.

Choose the correct lane based on which direction you want to go. Keep to the right of the Central Island.

Directional guide signs show the exits and where they will take you.

Yield to all traffic in the roundabout, wait for an adequate gap, and then enter the roundabout. Traffic inside the roundabout always has the right-of-way. In the roundabout travel only in a counter-clockwise direction.

For more information visit the MTO Roundabout Website at www.ontario.ca/roundabout.

Traffic Notes

Upcoming Meetings P.3Fun Facts P.4Kids Zone P.4

Raising the Roof on Opportunities

The Maidstone Museum located across from the Puce Landfill has seen an increase in traffic travelling in front of their business. On an average day over 75 dump trucks travel with excess earth from the Parkway by the museum en route to the landfill. Seeing this as an opportunity, the Historical Society that runs the not-for-profit museum has organized BBQs each Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. hoping hungry drivers will make a quick stop for a delicious bite to eat before picking up their next load of dirt.

The profits raised from the BBQs each week will be used to pay for a new roof that is needed on the former Maidstone town hall which now serves as the Heritage Resource Centre for the Maidstone Museum.

Those wishing to drop by and support this initiative can visit the volunteers each week at the Maidstone Museum located at 1093 Puce Road where they will offer hamburgers, turkey burgers, hot dogs, sausages and a selection of baked goods and beverages for sale.

Parkway Crews Commitment to Zero Incidents

Parkway Infrastructure Constructors (PIC) is concerned with the safety of all persons who work on the Windsor-Essex Parkway and with the safety of the general public in the surrounding areas. It is of the utmost importance to ensure that persons are not injured and property is not damaged as a result of work being performed to construct the Parkway.

PIC’s Zero Incident philosophy includes:• setting goals high and striving to have an incident free day, every day.• staying focused, guarding against complacency and working together as a team.

To date, over 200 companies or 3,200 individuals have participated in PIC's Health and Safety training.

Members of the public and pedestrians need to stay safe too. • Please respect all signs identifying where pedestrian access is prohibited.• Do not enter fenced-off construction sites.• Be aware of uneven surfaces.• Be alert.

Traffic NotesHere is the latest info about upcoming traffic pattern shifts. To stay up-to-date: www.weparkway.ca www.twitter.com/weparkway www.facebook.com/weparkway.

Long-Term Road Closures:

Road Closure Start Duration Purpose of Closure

Cousineau Road October 11 months To construct the Cousineau Tunnel (T-9).

Short-Term Road Closures:

Road Anticipated Approximate Purpose of Closure Closure Start Duration

Malden Road October 5 days

E. C. Row October 2 years To construct new E.C. Row eastbound.

Required to demolish the existing Malden Road Bridge.

Highway 401 Fall 55 hours Required to demolish the existing Highway 3 Bridge over Highway 401.

Temporary Traffic Diversions:

• Connector between D1 and D2 for the construction of Labelle and Grand Marais Tunnels (T-2 and T-3). September 2012 for 18 months.

• Diversion 2 (from Labelle Street to Grand Marais Road West) for the construction of Labelle and Grand Marais Tunnels (T-2 and T-3). September 2012 for 18 months.

• Diversion 3 (from Pulford Street to west Cabana Road) for the construction of Pulford and Oakwood Tunnels (T-4 and T-5). September 2012 for 1 year.

• Diversion 6 (east of Howard Avenue) for the construction of future off-ramp from Highway 401 westbound to Highway 3 Bridge (B-12) and new Highway 3. September 2012 for 1 year.

• Diversion 10 from Cabana Road to Todd Lane for the construction of Todd/Cabana Tunnel (T-6). September 2012 for 1 year.

• Diversion 14 (Sandwich West Parkway extension) for the construction of Cousineau Tunnel (T-9). October 2012 for six to eight weeks.

• Roundabout for the construction of future off-ramp from Highway 401 westbound to Highway 3 Bridge (B-12) and new Highway 3. Fall 2012 permanently.

“It is the philosophy of PIC, that safety shall not be compromised on this project. Safety shall be part of all job planning and execution processes, by all participants, from the bidding phase to completion.”

– Michael Hatchell, Design, Build Director

Scan the barcode with your smart phone to join our mailing list. If you don’t have a smart phone, send us an email at detroit.river@ontario.ca. Be sure to include in your message the email address you would like us to send information to and indicate that you want to join the mailing list.

Take A Guess

We are currently planning our next round of Community Meetings to be held during the month of September. The purpose of these meetings is to present up-to-date information and cross section drawings to specific communitieson Windsor-Essex Parkway landscaping, noise barriers and trail bridge design. Please join us to discuss these topics with subject matter experts and provide your feedback. These meetings are being held at the Macedonian Community Centre at 5225 Howard and are organized based on geographic location as follows:

Grand Marais Road and Pulford Street Tuesday, September 18 6:30 p.m.Homestead Lane Tuesday, September 18 8:00 p.m.Shadetree Crescent and Shadetree Court Wednesday, September 19 6:30 p.m.Villa Paradiso Crescent and Hearthwood Place Wednesday, September 19 8:00 p.m.Cabana Road Thursday, September 20 6:30 p.m.Lambton Road Thursday, September 20 8:00 p.m.Villa Borghese Court Tuesday, September 25 6:30 p.m.Chelsea Drive Tuesday, September 25 8:00 p.m.Spring Garden Avenue Wednesday, September 26 6:30 p.m.Bethlehem Avenue Wednesday, September 26 8:00 p.m.

All materials presented at these meetings will be posted on our website, www.weparkway.ca, following the events. If you cannot attend the scheduled meeting for your community, check out the information posted, or contact the Public Liaison Office by calling 1-877-WE-PKWAY or emailing wep-plo@wemg.ca to arrange an alternative time to review the materials at our office.

Upcoming Community Meetings

People Pro�leMeet some of the team

The Windsor-Essex Parkway is creating and supporting jobs across the region and helping to stimulate our local economy. Design and construction of the Parkway is also providing training for people in our community and creating unique partnerships. In each issue of this newsletter, we’ll introduce you to at least one person involved with the Parkway.

Q. What is your name and position? Joelle Deslippe, Traffic Coordinator

Q. Where are you from? Windsor, ON

Q. What type of work are you doing on the Windsor-Essex Parkway project? I am responsible for coordinating maintenance of traffic control devices used within the Parkway corridor. I also coordinate road closures for construction activities, supervise a traffic maintenance crew and co- ordinate and supervise road maintenance activities such as road repair, sign repairs and installations and winter maintenance activities.

Q. How long will you be working on the project? Until completion.

Q. When people find out that you are working on the Parkway project what do they typically say? People usually comment on how great of an opportunity it is and how the Windsor-Essex Parkway is such a necessity for the Windsor area, not only because it is a highway we need, but because of the job creation in the area.

Q. What has been the most rewarding part of your work on the project so far? The most rewarding part of working on the Windsor-Essex Parkway is having the opportunity to work on such an exceptional project and experiencing its progression. Q. Do you have anything else you would like our readers to know about your experience working on this project? I believe that when the Parkway is complete, residents and visitors alike will appreciate all of the hard work and expertise that has been invested in this project.

Species at risk can be found through-out Windsor and Essex County, with many of them living in the areas adjacent to the Windsor-Essex Parkway. Test your knowledge oflocal species.

1. My petals can be lavender or light blue. I grow to be a tall flower. I am a threatened species.

2. My long slithery body has three yellow stripes. My home is in prairies, pastures and parks. I am an endangered species.

3. I have white tube-like flowers. I am only found in Windsor and two other places in all of Canada. I am a threatened species.

4. My purple flowers grow in a spike along the top of my stem. I can grow to be very tall. I am a threatened species.

5. I have a reddish coloured head, large brown spots and a yellow body. I am Ontario’s second largest snake species, attaining lengths of over 150 cm. I am an endangered species.

6. I grow very slowly and only bloom after three to seven years. My white flowers are very rare. I am an endangered species.

Choices:A. Eastern Foxsnake B. Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid C. Willowleaf Aster D. Butler’s Gartersnake E. Dense Blazing StarF. Colicroot

Answers are on page 4.

Fun Facts

Here are some interesting things about the Parkway you may not know. Tell us what you think and more of what you would like to hear about on Twitter at www.twitter.com/weparkway or on Facebookat www.facebook.com/weparkway.

500 tonnes of structural steel, used for various purposes on the Parkway, have been installed to date.

It was a hot summer for workers on the Parkway. Temperatures reached a scorching 37.9C on July 4, making it the hottest dayon the Parkway.

Excavators are very important for the construction of the project. They have been used for 40,000 hours of work to date.

Not to shed any lasting memories of summerbut did you know that the coldest working day on the Parkway was -15.3C on January 15, 2012?

18 boat loads of aggregate have been brought in to the Parkway to be used as stable foundation.

Over 15,000 metres of temporary snake fence barrier has been used on the Parkwayto help protect snake species at risk.

Over 400 endangered snakes have been relocated or saved since construction started on the Parkway one year ago.

Specialists have spent over 9,000 hours on species work for the Parkway.

14,000 m3 of asphalt has been placed for Windsor-Essex Parkway diversion roads.

There are 10 new engineers working for PICincluding 5 recent graduates from the University of Windsor.

There are currently 251 companies engaged with PIC on the design/build portion of the project.

www.weparkway.ca 1-877-WE-PKWAYwww.facebook.com/weparkwaywww.twitter.com/weparkwaywww.�ickr.com/photos/weparkwaywww.youtube.com/weparkway

There are many ways to stay up-to-date

Public Liaison O�ce2187 Huron Church Road Suite 340 AWindsor, ON N9C 2L8wep-plo@wemg.ca

Ministry of Transportation 949 McDougall AvenueSuite 200Windsor, ON N9A 1L9detroit.river@ontario.ca

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