Project updates
Starting Monday, March 16, Dundas Street between McCormick Boulevard and Highbury Avenue will be fully closed to traffic as part of Phase 5. Dundas Street will be closed to traffic, but local access to homes and businesses will be maintained.
Crews are completing roadwork, sidewalks and landscaping on the south side of Oxford Street this year.
Work on the north side, between Highbury Avenue and Second Street, is scheduled to begin in January 2026. Lane restrictions and detours will be in place through September 2026.
Most construction will wrap up in 2025, with final paving and bus lane painting planned for spring/summer 2026.
Construction on the Highbury Bridge will continue through winter and into 2026.
About this project
The East London Link is a multi-year project that will revitalize more than 6 km of road from Downtown to Fanshawe College. The project will add transportation and transit improvements above ground, while repairing and replacing aging sewers, watermains and other underground infrastructure. The East London Link has received funding commitments from the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario to support 10 transit and transit-supportive projects.
Centre-median
A centre median is the strip of land or barrier that runs down the middle of a road, separating traffic going in opposite directions. It can be raised, painted, landscaped, or include a barrier, and on rapid transit routes, it often provides a dedicated lane for buses in the centre of the road.
Rapid transit needs a centre median to keep buses safe, frequent, and reliable, whether they run in the curb lane or the middle of the road. Because of this, left turns will only be allowed at traffic lights, and driveways or smaller streets will become right-in/right-out only.
This change may require local businesses to alter their delivery and/or access routes to and from both Highbury Avenue and Oxford Street as part of the East London Link project.
Construction phasing
Above: The map shows the planned construction phases for the East London Link project, including approximate timelines and completed phases
King Street Traffic Update
LTC buses are now travelling in both directions (westbound and eastbound) on King Street between Old East Village and Downtown. Unless you're driving an LTC bus, you should ONLY be travelling in ONE direction on King Street - that's eastbound!
Please visit london.ca/buslanes to learn more.
East London Link Phasing
Below is an overview of the construction phasing for the East London Link project. Phases may not be completed in numerical order; sequencing is based on construction logistics, traffic management needs, and project priorities.
Each phase includes details about project limits, anticipated impacts, and key milestones to help residents, businesses, and road users understand what to expect as construction progresses.
Crews will begin mobilizing to the area as early as mid-March to prepare for construction. This includes setting up traffic control measures and installing temporary traffic signals.
Construction will continue through 2026 and 2027, with final surface asphalt planned for 2028.
Phase 5 will be completed in stages. This approach allows work to move forward while maintaining access to local businesses and properties throughout the project area.
Above: Map shows the project limits for Phase 5 Dundas Street between McCormick Boulevard and Highbury Avenue.
Pre-construction webinar
A pre-construction webinar was hosted for Phase 5. Watch the presentation here. To view the presentation slides, click here.
Phase 4 construction is underway and will continue through 2025 and 2026.
Work is being completed in stages to maintain access to properties and businesses. The first stage began on the south side of Oxford Street from the east project limit to Roehampton Avenue, requiring lane reductions and turning restrictions. Similar restrictions will be in place as work moves through subsequent stages.
Above: Map of East London Link Phase 4 (Oxford Street from Highbury Avenue to a few metres east of Second Street)
Above: Conceptual rendering of the East London Link Phase 4 on Oxford Street.
Pre-construction webinar
A pre-construction webinar was hosted for Phase 4. Watch the presentation here.
Previous public engagement
A virtual meeting was held on November 6, followed by an in-person drop-in session on November 12. Watch the presentation here.
Phase 3B includes the reconstruction and widening of Highbury Avenue from Dundas Street to the north limit of the Highbury Bridge/CPKC overpass.
This work will convert Highbury Avenue North from four lanes to six lanes, including dedicated centre-running rapid transit lanes.
Timeline
Construction is underway and will continue through 2026, with lane reductions in place throughout the corridor.
Impacts
- Highbury Avenue will remain open with reduced lanes and delays.
- Work is staged to maintain traffic flow and property access.
Above: A conceptual rendering of the Highbury Avenue Bridge as part of the East London Link Phase 3B.
Phase 3A West, on Dundas Street between Egerton Street and McCormick Boulevard, is nearing completion. Some carry-over and warranty work is expected in 2026.
Webinar
Recording of the March 19 pre-construction webinar, click here.
Above: Map of the approximate limits of the project.
Phase 3C began in February and includes work along Highbury Avenue North (Oxford Street to the Highbury overpass) and Oxford Street (east of Highbury to near Wistow Street).
Finishing work will continue into 2025, with surface paving planned for 2026.
Above: A map of the project limits for East London Link Phase 3C
Webinar
Recording of the February 21 webinar, click here.
Anticipated impacts
Drivers:- Reduced lanes on Highbury and Oxford
- Turning restrictions and delays
- Access maintained to commercial, industrial, and residential areas
- Some LTC stop impacts, check the LTC website for updates
- Sidewalk closures and restrictions
- Safe pedestrian detours and wayfinding provided
- At least one side of the road will remain open for pedestrians
Public Information Centre
Watch the PIC recording here.
Construction activities include:
- Concrete platforms for future rapid transit stops
- Widening the Highbury Road bridge for dedicated rapid transit lanes
- Installing a concrete median along Dundas Street and Highbury Avenue
- Water and sewer replacement
- Intersection upgrades and full reconstructions
- Landscape improvements
- Utility relocations
Design update – Dundas Street
The Dundas Street design was updated from centre-running to curbside bus lanes to support transit operations while reducing business impacts.
Above: A cross-section illustration of the new configuration for the Dundas Street portion of phase 3, between Egerton Street and Highbury Avenue
Key considerations:
- 40% reduction in required property acquisition
- More accessible local transit stops
- Ability to add an additional stop at Kellogg’s Lane
- Improved access and turning movements for businesses
