‘Fingal will be tore up’: Major construction in village of Fingal starts Monday

CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell reports on pricey 7-million-dollar construction project to start Monday at main intersection of Union Line and Fingal.

The village of Fingal in Elgin County is about to get turned upside down by major construction.

A road rehab project gets underway on Monday. The main intersection of Fingal Line and Union Road will undergo complete reconstruction.

Statue craftsman Leroy Howald owns 6 Gnomes Lawn Ornaments at the corner of Fingal Line and Union Road and lives at the same address.

He worries the statue business will come to a stand-still once construction begins in front of his roadside statue shop.

“It’s affecting my sales, because I’m sure it’s hitting everybody along the Union Road because they close the road, so there’s no access to us from the 401, so we lose a lot of traffic from out of town,” he said.

Southwold Township Mayor Grant Jones is asking residents for patience during the project.

“It’s a very large undertaking for the township and the county of Elgin. Run a couple of years. Going to create some disruption. Actually, more than just some disruption. Fingal will be tore up for the next year and a half or so,” he explained.

The total cost of this intersection reconstruction project is $7.4 million. Mayor Jones says the township is seizing on it as an opportunity to get much needed infrastructure work done. That’s because the province is picking up half the bill, with Elgin County picking up the other half.

The township says when complete, the community will see the following:

• Narrower lanes to encourage slower traffic speeds
• Clearly marked parking bays
• Wider, separated sidewalks
• A signalized intersection at Fingal Line & Union Road
• Street and pedestrian level lighting through town
• New pedestrian crossings (PXO’s)
• Dedicated turning lanes for future development
• Gateway features at village entrances to slow traffic

Construction is piggy-backing on a new sanitary treatment system for Shedden and Fingal, paid for with a $28 million provincial grant. Mayor Grant says it will accommodate housing growth.

“A lot of extra room for housing in the future when we see these 13-hundred homes coming to Fingal and Shedden,” he said.

Existing property owners will have to pay if they choose to connect.

It’s something that doesn’t sit well with everyone.

“I’ve heard it’s going to be about $30,000 dollars to hook up to the new sewers. So I mean, we’ve noticed a huge increase in the amount of houses going up for sale in the village,” said resident Laura Whittaker.

“It’s going to be a big cost. I mean if we go with their plan. It could double our taxes here for the next ten years,” said David Marshall.

“It’s going to be a little costly for us, but ultimately it’s going to make the village of Fingal a lot better for people,” added Mary Moxley, Marshall’s partner.

Construction is expected to last until June 2027.