Southbound Red Hill Valley Parkway reopens ahead of schedule at Barton Street, access by 11 p.m. from QEW

For the first time in seven weeks, traffic is again moving in both directions along much of the Red Hill Valley Parkway (RHVP).

The City of Hamilton reopened the southbound (upbound) lanes late Wednesday afternoon at Barton Street, about six hours earlier than originally anticipated.

Drivers, for the time being, are still not able to enter the RHVP at the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW).

The city says those barricades will come down by 11 p.m.

The southbound lanes of the RHVP had been closed since June 12 for resurfacing, line painting and the installation of new guide rails and rumble strips.

The $18-million project started in May with resurfacing of the northbound lanes following the discovery of a report that raised concerns about “friction” levels, or slipperiness, of the parkway’s original asphalt.

The reopening of the southbound lanes does not mean an end to all delays related to the project.

There are still two weeks of closures ahead involving the ramps to the Lincoln Alexander Expressway (LINC) and the RHVP from Mud Street and the Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway.