Sarnia switching road closure alerts to Municipal 511

The City of Sarnia is moving road closure updates to Municipal 511 as construction season ramps up, replacing email and text alerts through Sarnia Lambton Alerts beginning July 2.

The City of Sarnia is changing how it communicates road closures and construction-related traffic impacts.

Beginning July 2, the city will no longer send road closure notifications through the Sarnia Lambton Alerts email and text system. Instead, road closure information will be shared through Municipal 511, a map-based platform used by municipalities to provide traffic and construction updates.

The Municipal 511 system allows residents to view planned and active road closures on a map. The information can also connect with navigation software, including Google Maps.

The County of Lambton already uses Municipal 511, allowing Sarnia to make the switch at no additional cost as one of the county’s lower-tier municipalities.

Residents can also view construction updates through the city’s construction webpage at sarnia.ca/construction, where Municipal 511 maps are embedded.

The notification system is used to keep emergency services and the public informed about road closures and traffic disruptions.

The change comes as Sarnia moves through construction season, with several projects planned or underway across the city. Current work includes sewer separation projects, pumping station upgrades and road resurfacing.

In May, Sarnia council awarded Schouten Excavating Ltd. a $3.3-million contract for the reconstruction of George Street between Mackenzie Street and Russell Street. The project includes sewer separation work, which is part of an ongoing effort to reduce runoff into the St. Clair River.

About 50 roads are also expected to be resurfaced this year.

A major project still pending in 2026 is the estimated $18-million Wellington Street extension, which would extend the road by 1.5 kilometres as part of preparing Development Area 2 for future growth in Sarnia’s east end.

The city is expected to tender the Wellington Street extension project, with a contract anticipated later this year. Construction could begin in the fall, with most of the work expected to take place in 2027.

Sarnia’s asset management plan has identified a need for about $84 million per year to maintain the city’s $4.6 billion in assets. An updated plan with revised figures is expected in June.