Guardrail repairs on Erie Shore Drive could see a section of the road shut down throughout the summer months.
In a report coming to a meeting on Monday, Chatham-Kent Public Works is asking for council to approve an extended closure of the Harwich Township road to allow for the replacement of a compromised guardrail that was severely damaged in a collision.
According to the Chatham-Kent Police Service, a tandem salting truck slid off the road into the guardrail due to icy conditions on February 6. The vehicle came to a rest in the ditch and the driver was uninjured.
In the interest of public safety, a 500-metre-long segment of Erie Shore Drive near the westerly confluence with Dyke Road has been closed since the collision after it was determined that the existing barrier was ineffective.
Public Works expects to submit a tender for the guardrail replacement in May with construction expected to take place throughout the summer. The road would then reopen sometime in August.
Council approval is needed to formally close the road until the repairs have been completed.
Work on the guardrail, which was already due for replacement in 2026, will be funded through an annual program that was approved by council through the 2025 Capital Budget.
