The City of Hamilton has approved and filed the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the long-awaited widening of Rymal Road, moving a major road project on Hamilton Mountain one step closer to construction.
The project runs approximately five kilometers of Rymal Road from Upper James Street to Dartnall Road and is meant to improve one of the city’s major east-west transportation routes.
The environmental assessment is complete and the project is now in the detailed design phase.
Planned improvements include the addition of a lane of traffic in each direction, expansion and upgrade of cycling infrastructure, and improvement of stormwater management facilities.
The upgraded corridor is expected to improve links between the Airport Employment Growth District, Red Hill Business Park and other areas beyond Hamilton Mountain.$107 million investment
The project is expected to be one of Hamilton’s biggest construction projects for the next several years.
Dipankar Sharma, director of engineering services and acting engineering services public works, updated council, saying the city’s current estimated cost is approximately $107 million.
About $88 million will go toward rebuilding roads and improving stormwater systems, while another $19 million will be spent on other underground infrastructure.
Next we will develop detailed design based on the preliminary engineering work done as part of the environmental assessment.
The city is now preparing the terms of reference for a consultant who will spearhead the detailed design.
Design work and preparation of the construction tender is expected to take place over the next two years.
Construction slated for 2028
Construction will be in phases over about four years, after detailed design and tendering.
The extended schedule is due to the size and complexity of the project, and the need to coordinate construction with other major infrastructure projects in the area.
One of the projects that will need to be coordinated is the Stone Church Feeder Main watermain project.
Right now, construction for the widening of Rymal Road is scheduled to begin in 2028 and be completed by 2031.
But city staff also are exploring options that could accelerate the timeline.
The project is a major investment in Hamilton Mountain’s transportation infrastructure and will improve traffic capacity, active transportation opportunities and stormwater management along one of the city’s primary east-west corridors.
