A busy intersection in Mississauga’s west end is closed to traffic this week as crews continue to work on widening a main road.
The City of Mississauga said it’s closing the Ninth Line/Platinum Drive intersection, to the immediate west of the large Ridgeway Plaza, between Nov. 2 and Nov. 7.
The closure is necessary “to facilitate construction of the storm sewer system and oil-grit separator structure” and to allow workers “to safely complete the work while ensuring public safety and the safety of construction personnel,” the city said in its latest project update.
Drivers can use Eglinton Avenue and Ridgeway Drive as alternate routes, project officials said, adding detour signs will be posted.
The city noted it has coordinated with nearby businesses and schools to ensure the intersection closure isn’t disruptive.
“In addition to the road closure requirements, additional flagmen will be placed at the entrance of the Autospa,” project officials said in their online update to the community. “Additionally, construction notices were hand delivered to the impacted businesses, including Autospa, the school, gas station and Tim Hortons. Portable message signs have been put up to notify the public of the road closure.”
(Rendering: City of Mississauga)
Work began in early June to expand a 6.7-kilometre stretch of Ninth Line between Derry Road and Eglinton Avenue to four lanes from its current two-lane configuration.
When completed in late 2027, the new-look north-south road will feature more than the two extra lanes — it’ll also include new sidewalks, cycle tracks for bike riders, better bus stops and a host of additional attributes expected to “promote growth and allow more housing in the area,” the City of Mississauga said earlier.
In fact, city officials predicted, the major undertaking will “help turn Mississauga’s last remaining greenfield into a well-connected, transit-friendly and sustainable neighbourhood.”
Mississauga Ward 10 Coun. Sue McFadden said in an update to the community this week that “as work progresses steadily on the Ninth Line widening project, the latest round of activities includes another road intersection closure update, a Miway detour, tree removals and hydro poles (being) relocated.
Map shows location of this week’s intersection closure and surrounding area.
“As always, if you can avoid Ninth Line, please use another route,” she added. “Otherwise, expect some delays along this corridor.”
Project officials said the removal of some mature trees and relocation of hydro poles have been underway the past few weeks along the corridor “to make room for the widening of the road, including the sidewalk and cycle track to the east. Unfortunately, these mature trees were within the right-of-way.”
Officials added MiWay bus routes 49 and 49A McDowell “will have some stops temporarily out of use along Ninth Line as crews work in the immediate area. The detour will use Raftsman Cove instead of Ninth Line.”
When work is completed late next year, Ninth Line in Mississauga will be “wider, safer and easier to use,” the city said earlier, adding the many upgrades “will enable more than 3,400 homes and support people who walk, bike, take transit and drive.”
Additionally, a completed Ninth Line will be designed to help reduce the risk of local flooding, the city noted, a concern on the rise the past few years given the increased frequency of heavy rainstorms that have flooded parts of Canada’s seventh-largest city.
Overall, the key upgrades “will widen the road, add space for walking and biking, improve transit stops and reduce the risk of flooding,” the city said. “These important updates will help people travel more safely, comfortably and conveniently while preparing the area for future growth. Once complete, the improvements will reduce congestion, support all road users and help the road handle heavy rain, making daily trips more reliable as the community continues to grow.”
More specifically, according to city officials, the project will deliver the following improvements:
Widen the road from two lanes to four lanes, with two lanes in each direction to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow during peak travel times.
Add sidewalks, curbs and gutters, along with cycle tracks behind the roadway curb to create safer routes for families, students and people walking or biking.
Improve storm drainage to help reduce flooding on the road during heavy rain, improving safety and reliability.
Add new street lighting, transit stops, intersections and traffic signals to create safer streets.
Improve access to make it easier and safer for residents to access nearby parks, trails and Osprey Marsh.
Enhance the culvert bridge with better waterproofing and a wider road to reduce the risk of flooding during storms.
Mississauga officials said the sweeping project is partly funded by the Ontario government’s $20-million contribution via the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program. The program helps municipalities build, maintain and repair local roads, bridges, culverts and water systems to enable new housing and protect existing homes from health and safety risks.
McFadden said earlier this year the “massive infrastructure project will serve the needs of all residents who are travelling on Ninth Line to access businesses, homes, green spaces and Osprey Marsh.”
Mississauga-Erin Mills MPP Sheref Sabawy said in June that Ninth Line is “no longer a rural road on the outskirts of the city; it is becoming a critical artery for the Erin Mills community.”
In recent years, Sabawy continued, “we have seen incredible community milestones come to life here, including the Churchill Meadows Community Centre and Mattamy Sports Park. Expanding Ninth Line will allow development to continue, paving the way for new homes and development.”
(Cover photo: City of Mississauga)
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