WATERLOO REGION - The end is near.

Construction of the region's light rail transit project is expected to be 90 per cent complete by the end of the year.

"If you think about January, we were at 29 per cent so that's a massive amount of work over the year," said Avril Fisken, GrandLinq spokesperson. "We can all feel it."

Construction is expected complete in 2017 with a launch planned for early 2018.

Thursday marked a major milestone as nearly every remaining street closed for construction reopened.

Openings included:

• The King Street and Wellington Street intersection.

• Duke Street from Francis Street to Frederick Street is open to two-way traffic from Francis to Young and Queen Street to Frederick and one-way traffic northbound from Ontario to Young.

• Frederick and Benton Street from Charles Street to Weber Street.

• Courtland Avenue is open to four lanes.

• Ottawa Street from Charles to Mill Street is open to two-way traffic, but Mill at Ottawa will remain closed until late December to allow the concrete time to cure.

In addition to the Mill at Ottawa, the only remaining closure is for the King Street grade separation.

Some minor closures are expected in 2017 as well but details weren't available.

Most of the remaining work is the completion of the overhead catenary system, landscaping and final asphalt.

Progress on other work includes:

• 100 per cent of the 56 kilometres of new underground sewer, sanitary and water main pipe has been installed.

• 31 kilometres, about 92 per cent, of the light rail track has been installed.

• 100 per cent of the footings and 68 per cent of the poles that make up the overhead catenary system which will supply electric power to the light rail vehicles is installed.

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• 43,200 of the more than 56,000 square metres of sidewalk required have been installed.

• The operations, maintenance and storage facility on Dutton Drive is complete,

For more construction information, visit rideion.ca