Part of Highway 7/8 in Kitchener to close this weekend

Part of Highway 7/8 in Kitchener will be closed to traffic this weekend.

It all starts Saturday night around 8 p.m. as lane closures are set to take effect between Fischer-Hallman Road and Homer Watson Boulevard. A full closure will then begin in that area at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday.

A single lane of traffic will reopen in each direction on Highway 7/8 starting Sunday just before midnight, with all lanes scheduled to be cleared by 5 a.m. on Monday.

The traffic interruptions are required as a new pedestrian/cycle bridge will be hoisted above the highway and then placed between the Fischer-Hallman Road and Homer Watson Boulevard interchanges.

“It is necessary to close Highway 7/8 while the bridge is being put into place,” reads a media release from the Region of Waterloo. “Please plan ahead as significant delays are expected in these affected areas during the highway closure.”

During the full closure that’s set to begin first thing on Sunday, eastbound traffic will be diverted off Highway 7/8 at Fischer-Hallman Road; westbound traffic will be diverted off the highway at Homer Watson Boulevard.

Ottawa Street will be used as the detour route and delays are expected in the area as a result. The region has since indicated that ongoing roadwork at Fischer-Hallman Road and Ottawa Street South will pause for the weekend to encourage a smooth detour, with officers on site to help direct traffic.

A portion of Chandler Drive in Kitchener is also set to be closed temporarily Saturday between Woodfern Court and Strasburg Road as equipment is put in place.

The work and timing of the closures and lane reductions is all weather dependent, and updates will be provided if the plans change.