KITCHENER - King Street is expected to reopen at Victoria Street next month, after the stretch was shut for nearly two years to construct an underpass.

"It's an incredibly complex piece of work," said Avril Fisken, GrandLinq spokesperson.

A bridge needed to be built for CN Rail tracks across a lowered King Street. Light rail trains will also use the underpass.

The plan is to reopen the stretch from Victoria Street to Moore Avenue in mid-July.

"Everything is weather dependent and we do have quite a bit to do," Fisken said.

Most of the base-coat paving was completed this week, but there's still much to do before the area is finished. That includes installing a drainage system, sidewalks and curbs, a handrail on the elevated sidewalk, and Ion stop, as well as adjusting the overhead wire system for light rail.

"It's unfortunate because it looks finished. Once you put that black top on, people get excited," Fisken said.

Preparations for the grade separation started in summer 2015 and then construction a bit later. A temporary heated dome was erected over the area in early 2016, and stayed up until the end of April to pour concrete for the new bridge.

"Because we started late in the summer, we wanted to work through the winter," Fisken said. "There was some temperature sensitive work we needed to do."

That delay in starting, along with third-party utility work, puts the opening slightly behind schedule. Since last year, GrandLinq has forecasted the finish at mid-July.

Fisken urged pedestrians to stay away until the stretch, still a construction area, is officially open again.

"People are still travelling through the area. The area is closed," Fisken said. "Hold on. We'll get there."

Final asphalt paving is scheduled for uptown Waterloo next week.

From Tuesday to Saturday, there will be four separate 24-hour full-road closures on Caroline, Allen and King streets.

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GrandLinq crews plan to lay asphalt during the day and stripe the road at night, subject to weather conditions.

For the latest Ion construction information, go to rideION.ca or call 1-844-625-1010.