As part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, just over three kilometres of Sandwich Street will be reconstructed by Bridging North America (BNA) and will stretch from south of the Rosedale Avenue roundabout past Ojibway Parkway to McKee Avenue.
In addition to this work, $1 million will be invested by the project’s Community Benefits Plan to further enhance the Sandwich Business Improvement Area.
See the Sandwich Street Community meeting presentation
As part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, just over three kilometres of Sandwich Street will be reconstructed by Bridging North America (BNA). Sandwich Street reconstruction is expected to cost about $12 million and will stretch from south of the Rosedale Avenue roundabout past Ojibway Parkway to McKee Avenue. Once complete, the City of Windsor will be responsible for maintaining the street.
Sandwich Street reconstruction includes:
- New street and sidewalks: existing street and sidewalks along the reconstruction stretch will be removed and replaced with a modern finish and built to meet accessibility standards. This includes improving visibility and increasing the turning radius at the Sandwich Street and Chappell Street intersection as well as the intersection at Sandwich Street and Prince Avenue.
- Bicycle and multipurpose lanes: New bicycle and multipurpose lanes will be included in the design and will improve cyclist safety and options for active transportation in the area. These lanes will connect to the bridge’s Canadian Port of Entry and additional pathways will be built to connect with the localized trail system, including the trail that leads to Malden Park.
- New stormwater sewer: A new underground storm sewer will be constructed between Ojibway Parkway and McKee Street.
- Collaboration with the City of Windsor: Sandwich Street reconstruction designs will be reviewed by and meet the City of Windsor’s standards and follow the Sandwich Heritage Conservation District, the Community Improvement Plan and Heritage Alteration Permit requirements and process.
Reconstruction phases and timelines
The Sandwich Street reconstruction activities will occur in four phases and take place during the hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Here are the anticipated timelines for the Sandwich Street reconstruction:
Phase one: summer 2022
- Sandwich Street will be removed and reconstructed between McKee Road to the Ojibway Parkway.
- Stormwater sewer construction will also take place during this phase.
Phase two: fall 2022 – winter 2022
- Sandwich Street will be removed and reconstructed between where Ojibway Parkway meets Sandwich Street to Chappell Street.
- Sidewalks and multi-use lanes will also be constructed along this stretch.
Phase three: spring 2023
- Sandwich Street will be removed and reconstructed from Brock Street to just south of the Rosedale Avenue roundabout, including the Sandwich Business Improvement Area. Sidewalks and bike lanes will also be constructed along this stretch.
Phase four: 2024
- Sandwich Street will be removed and reconstructed between Chappell Street to Brock Street.
- Sidewalks and bike lanes will also be constructed and connect into the multipurpose lanes at Chappell Street.
As part of the project’s Community Benefit’s Plan, the project will invest an additional $1 million to further enhance the Sandwich Business Improvement Area.
During the month of February 2022, the project team collected community feedback through a survey to help prioritize how the $1 million should be invested.
Survey respondents were asked to rank these four categories of investment areas:
Hardscaping: Benches, planter fences, and waste receptacles.
Landscaping: Potted plants or trees, flowering shrubs, planter boxes, tall grasses or other vegetation.
Gathering spaces: Seating areas of tables and benches, alone or in clusters to allow for community interaction.
Active transportation: Bike racks, wayfinding signage, or bicycle repair stations.
* Photos are illustrative examples only and do not reflect actual design
Next Steps
The project team is reviewing the responses to identify the areas most prioritized by the community. While the overall street design will include features from all four investment categories, additional funding will focus on those areas most important to the community.
The project team will work with the City of Windsor to ensure their approval of designs, which are anticipated to be publicly shared in summer 2022. Construction of the BIA district is anticipated for 2023.