Garner Road to close July 13 for critical sewer repairs

HAMILTON, ON – Garner Road will be closed to through traffic between Southcote Road and Glancaster Road beginning July 13 while the City completes critical sewer repairs that protect essential infrastructure and support the long-term reliability of Hamilton's sewer system. A full road closure will be in place between Springbrook Avenue and 850 Garner Road East. Local access will be maintained throughout the remainder of the closure area.

The closure is required to safely complete deep excavation work that cannot be carried out while traffic remains in place. The closure is expected to remain in place until September 4, weather and construction conditions permitting.

The City recognizes this project has taken longer than originally anticipated. Throughout construction, crews first pursued repair methods that allowed Garner Road to remain open and minimized disruption to residents, businesses and commuters. Following further engineering review, it was determined that open-cut construction is the safest and most effective way to complete the repair. 

While the closure will result in temporary inconvenience, completing this work will help ensure the sewer system continues to serve the community safely and reliably while supporting future growth in the area.

Why the road is closing

Toward the completion of the project in 2025, a section of sewer was found to require additional repair after unstable ground caused the sewer pipe to sink.

Since then, soil stabilization and hand tunnelling were used to complete the repair while keeping traffic moving where possible. Ultimately, these methods were not sufficient to complete the repair.

Following the engineering review, it was determined that a different approach was required and that open-cut construction was necessary to safely complete the repair. 

Open-cut construction involves removing a large section of the roadway to access and repair the sewer and rebuild the road. The excavation will be approximately nine metres deep, making it unsafe to maintain traffic through the work zone.

Once the sewer repair is complete, crews will complete final road restoration before Garner Road can reopen.

What residents and businesses will experience

• Garner Road will be closed to through traffic between Southcote Road and Glancaster Road
• No traffic will be permitted between Springbrook Avenue and 850 Garner Road East 
• Local access will be maintained up to the closure points 
• Signed detour routes will be in place

Businesses in the area will remain open throughout construction. Access will be maintained using the signed detour via Southcote Road, Book Road and Glancaster Road. Residents and visitors should follow posted signage to access local properties within the closure area.  

Transit and City services

• HSR service will detour during the closure 
• Emergency access will be maintained 
• Regular waste collection will continue as scheduled

For the most up-to-date information on closures, detours, and project timelines, visit hamilton.ca/roadclosures or subscribe to updates, alerts and newsletters by visiting hamilton.ca/city-council/news-notices/subscribe-e-updates.

Additional Resource

• Web page: Garner Road East Sewer Main Extension