Downbound lanes of Claremont Access expected to stay closed until August or September

The city says it expectswork on thedownbound lanes of theClaremont Access will continue until August or September.

The plan to remove 600 metres of the steel wall along the Mountain roadis expected to begin in Mayand should take about three months, anupdate from the public works department said Wednesday.

The city said lanes between Hunter Street and Upper James Street closedafter a routine inspection found an "urgent erosion and slope stability concern."

The update said the city has bee exploring a short-term alternative to re-open the access but, per advice from the city's consultant, Stantec Consulting Limited, staff will shift theirfocus to expediting the longer-term work.

The city also said it considered changing the two upbound lanes of the Claremont so one would goup and another wouldgodown, but the lanes aren't wide enough for that strategy to be safe.

"The city understands this closure is challenging and results in longer commutes into the downtown core; however, public safety is our top priority," reads the update.

The removal ofthe steel-facing walls willallow for the city and engineers to identify areas of concern and mitigate the risks, the city said.

For now, people can keep using the detour route.

Vehicles using Upper James Street are being asked to follow Fennell Avenue East to Upper Wellington Street and use the Jolly Cut or Arkledun Avenue escarpment access.