Highway 59 between Shakespeare and Tavistock expected to reopen Saturday following culvert replacement

COPE Construction workers put the finishing touches on the culvert replacement project along Highway 59 between Shakespeare and Tavistock Monday. The highway has been closed for approximately three weeks, with crews expected to complete paving Thursday and Friday before the road reopens to traffic Saturday. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Motorists travelling between Shakespeare and Tavistock should soon be able to return to their regular routes, with Highway 59 expected to reopen to traffic Saturday following a three-week closure for a culvert replacement.

An onsite supervisor with COPE Construction said Tuesday that crews were preparing to begin paving Thursday afternoon, with work continuing Friday before the road is expected to reopen to cars, trucks and agricultural equipment Saturday.

The project involved replacing an aging concrete culvert beneath the highway that had deteriorated to the point where replacement was necessary.

Construction crews have been working on the project for the past three weeks, with favourable weather conditions helping keep the work on schedule.

According to the construction supervisor, the project is expected to be completed within the original three-week timeline, provided the remaining paving work proceeds as planned.

The closure has forced motorists, including local farmers operating large agricultural equipment, to use alternate routes between Shakespeare and Tavistock.

Traffic has been diverted along Perth roads 106 and 108, resulting in increased vehicle volumes on those roads and affecting residents living along the detour routes.

With the highway expected to reopen Saturday, those residents should soon see traffic volumes return to normal.

The completion of the culvert replacement will also restore a direct connection between the two communities, eliminating the need for motorists to travel around the construction zone.