Metrolinx and York Region opened a rapidway — bus-only lanes in the centre of the roadway — along Highway 7 West, Centre and Bathurst Streets between Dufferin and Yonge Streets, Sunday, January 5.

The Metrolinx / York Region contractors have returned to the rapidway to complete deficiency, warranty and finishing work on the project.

They’re paving the roadway, repairing the storm sewers, planting trees and laying sod on Bathurst and Centre Streets.

Starting Monday, June 29 and from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day, crews repave the main roadway and work zones temporarily block regular traffic lanes. When necessary, regular traffic may detour into the rapidway lanes.

Starting Thursday, July 2 from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day and from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. overnight, crews repair the red asphalt at these intersections:

• Bathurst Street with New Westminster Drive / Atkinson Avenue;
• Bathurst Street with Worth Avenue / Flamingo Road;
• Centre Street with New Westminster Drive; and
• Centre Street with Dufferin Street.

At a later date, the crews return to repair the intersection of:

• Bathurst Street with Centre Street.

The TTC may temporarily relocate bus stops, while the crews work. TTC passengers aboard buses along this route can also expect delays:

• 160 Bathurst North.

York Region Transit may temporarily relocate bus stops and vivastations, while the crews work. YRT passengers aboard buses along these routes can also expect delays:

• Viva orange;
• 3 Thornhill;
• 23 Thornhill Woods;
• 77 Highway 7; and
• 88 Bathurst.

Red-asphalt repairs and other deficiency, warranty and finishing work on Bathurst and Centre Streets — and the resulting TTC and YRT service changes — continue “for a few weeks” or until about August 1.

The contractor crews work at each intersection in turn, blocking through traffic on the cross streets.

First, from 7 a.m. Thursday, July 2 until 7 p.m. Friday, July 3, they work at the intersection of

• Bathurst Street with New Westminster Drive / Atkinson Avenue,

near the Atkinson vivastation.

The work zone blocks east-west through traffic on New Westminster and Atkinson.

The TTC is detouring buses along this route, while the intersection is closed:

• 160 Bathurst North.

YRT is detouring buses along this route, while the intersection is closed:

• 3 Thornhill.

Deficiency, warranty and finishing work

VivaNext explains,

“When building rapidways for generations to enjoy, it’s important to make sure that the end product meets the requirements we set out to build. That’s why you may see work activity in the first couple of years after infrastructure projects are done.

Deficiencies

“Everything - from the paver stones on the sidewalk, to the glass in the canopies, to the red asphalt - is tested, inspected and verified by qualified engineers with a keen eye for detail. Anything that doesn’t make the grade is placed on a “deficiencies list” that the builder is responsible to remedy.

Warranty work

“Much like when you buy a new house, it can take one or two years for the foundations to settle, and for you to make note of where the finishes are less than desirable. Then the contractor comes back to fix all the nail pops and cracks in the drywall, fill any gaps in the molding and repaint where necessary. It ensures that you are happy with the work, and you get the most out of your home. Warranty work is the same idea for our facilities, stations and rapidways.

“Project managers of infrastructure projects call this the warranty work phase - an opportunity to catch any issues so that they can be fixed while the infrastructure is still under warranty - a period of two years. Note that the two-year warranty period starts when the project is handed over to York Region.

“It often takes all the seasons in a full year to see how things weather in our climate, or perform once in use. You could see operations such as grinding and smoothing of curbs, fixing paint finishes and filling small cracks and, of course, taking note of anything else that needs work. Some upcoming warranty works may be much bigger, like asphalt replacement.

Finishing work

“That’s why this spring on Highway 7 West and along Bathurst and Centre in Vaughan… you’ll see project completion work such as planting trees and shrubs, raised bike lane paving, permanent pavement markings, station finishings like anti-grafitti application, and caulking, etc.

Whether you’re a regular transit rider, or are considering your first trip on the rapidway, know that we are working hard to provide you with a quality experience - and infrastructure that’s built to last.”