Arthur Street between Elmira and St. Jacobs closed for railway crossing work

Traffic near St. Jacobs is heavier than usual because Arthur Street South is closed for construction between Listowel Road and Sawmill Road for construction this week.

The closure is forcing drivers to take a detour at New Jerusalem Road

“I can deal with it, because I would come the back way, or if I’m in a hurry, I’d come on the highway. But anybody living in town or who has to drive through, it’s just a little bit of an inconvenience for a week. It should be better in the long wrong,” Cheryl Preiss, a driver said.

“I had to drive around a different route, but it was still ok. Not a problem,” Joe Gauvin, another driver said.

The Region of Waterloo said beginning Monday, Arthur Street between Listowel Road and Sawmill Road is closed to accommodate Canadian National (CN) work at the rail crossing.

Area residents and visitors can access Arthur Street from the north and south sides of the rail crossing but will be unable to proceed through the crossing, the region said.

According to the region, CN will remove the existing crossing, install a new crossing with concrete panels and complete roadwork near the crossing.

The construction and closure is scheduled to last until Friday.

Despite the extra time it takes drivers to get around the closure, both Preiss and Gauvin think it’s worth the wait for improved roads.

“Every year we have the same thing going on, and hey, what can you do about it? Don’t complain,” Gauvin said.

“It’s been a nightmare for years, and we just have to deal with a little bit of chaos for a week,” Preiss said.

There are a few properties located along the closed road. Community Care Concepts is a not for profit that provides support services for senior and special needs clients. Its main administrative building is in the closure, which is forcing staff and volunteers to adjust their plans this week.

“Getting people to medical appointments on time or getting meals delivered to them, we have to build in that extra time for all of the detours and the traffic delays,” Cathy Harrington, the executive director of Community Care Concepts said.

Harrington said the construction is much needed. She wants drivers to use extra caution this week and obey the signs.

“Road closed actually does mean that the road is closed and that you can’t get through. We have quite a few vehicles and transports that are turning around in our driveway,” Harrington said.

CTV News reached out to CN Rail but did not receive an immediete response.