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City of Hamilton waiting on Metrolinx for LRT developments: mayor

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Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath says the city is waiting on Metrolinx to begin construction for the long-anticipated LRT system.

The mayor says that more delays are expected before the project comes to fruition.

According to Horwath, Metrolinx has yet to confirm a contractor for the LRT project, which is the source of some of the current delays and the city is now waiting on the agency to move forward with the project.

When asked if the delays were in part caused by the city’s move to convert Main Street to two-way traffic, Horwath affirmed that the two projects are independent of each other and the street conversion has no effect on the timeline of the LRT.

Collaboration between the chosen contractor and the city will be necessary to ensure cohesion, but the mayor says that timelines are not dependent on one another.

“They need to get moving,” says Horwath. “They just need to get moving and I continue to urge them to do so.”

WATCH MORE: Metrolinx announces major re-route of Hamilton LRT project

Design changes have also pushed back expected timelines, according to Horwath.

These new plans had Metrolinx deserting its original plans to build a bridge dedicated solely to train traffic across Highway 403 and reallocating time and resources to the reconstruction of the Main Street West vehicle bridge.

The provincial agency says that the redesign was prompted by the city’s commitment to convert Main Street from a one-way to a two-way roadway through the downtown core.

The proposed refinement plans will see the reconstruction of the Main Street bridge, along with the reconstruction of both ramps of Highway 403 and a full replacement of Frid Street.

Horwath says some preliminary work has begun, though it may still be some time before residents see the work that will see the LRT finally come to fruition.

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