Construction along the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway continues on, despite the first signs of winter-like weather this week.

Parkway constructors had initially hoped to have the highway open by mid-December, but officials say record-breaking cold and snow could derail progress.

“It seems like every time we get the momentum up and we get going, Mother Nature takes control back,” says spokesperson Cindy Prince.

It's been over three years since construction began.

“Things were really going really quite well,” says Prince. “In the last couple of months we've been really pleased with amount of work being completed, and we're very close to the finish line."

Prince says the parkway constructors picked Dec. 15 as a target completion date for all connecting roadways, Highway 3 and the below-grade parkway from the 401 to approximately Huron Church at EC Row Expressway.

“We're still working very hard to that goal, it's really up to the weather right now,” says Prince. “We're going to need two to three weeks of really exceptional weather to be able to meet that sked."

Prince says residents can expect any surface work like paving to be completed in the spring, when the conditions are more optimal.