On a typical day, about 20,000 vehicles use King Street between Wellington and Union in Kitchener’s north end.
There’s no way to know exactly how many vehicles drove that stretch Monday – but those that did faced lane reductions, slower speeds and everything else associated with the first day of a construction-induced road closure.
That section of King will remain closed to through traffic for several months, as construction for the Ion light rail transit system takes place.
While parts of the street will be down to one lane at times, Grand River Hospital will never be entirely closed off.
Drivers visiting the hospital said they had no issues with the first day of construction, but worried the situation could get worse once the project is further along.
“I can see peoples’ frustration levels just going through the roof, being stuck in traffic,” said Joy Deslippe.
“It’s going to be chaos.”
Anita Hoekstra said she was willing to wait out the construction – but, as a Roseville resident, wasn’t sure she’d ever use the rapid transit system.
“If I’m in my vehicle (to get to a stop), I may as well just continue on my way,” she said.
Later in the spring, the closure on King will extend south to Victoria Street – as a full closure of King – and north to Erb Street.
In downtown Kitchener, Charles Street also closed Monday, between Borden Avenue and Benton Street.
Part of Borden itself is closed for Ion-related construction, as is Caroline Street in Waterloo.
Charles will find itself closed all the way to Victoria in a few weeks’ time.
