London Ontario - At the level rail crossing on Adelaide Street near Central Avenue, it's estimated slow-moving trains delay vehicles for a total of about two hours a day.
 
And that will probably continue for about 5,400 more days.
 
But there's hope on the horizon, even if it's not expected before 2031, as city hall starts the study, known as an environmental assessment, that will determine the feasibility of building an overpass or underpass to solve a traffic headache that's only getting more severe.
 
"Obviously that's a significant problem," Coun. Jared Zaifman said of the traffic disruption.
 
City staff estimate about 25,500 vehicles drive daily along the section of Adelaide where the Canadian Pacific Railway lines cross just north of Central Avenue.
 
A city study found there are between 25 and 43 "daily road blockages" by trains, creating total traffic delays of between 106 and 126 minutes each day.
 
That, Coun. Phil Squire notes, will only get worse if an indirectly related project to create an underpass at the rail crossing on Richmond Street, goes ahead as part of city hall's proposed rapid transit plan.
 
"This in my view is almost a rapid transit project," Squire told his colleagues during a debate Tuesday.
 
"An Adelaide Street underpass is key to our rapid transit plan moving forward."
 
It's always possible this big-ticket project could be done ahead of the scheduled 2031 construction start.
 
The environmental assessment is being done now, city staff say, to prepare if that happens.
 
Council's civic works committee endorsed hiring MMM Group Limited as the engineers to carry out the study.
 
It will cost $375,000.
 
City staff say there will be at least two public meetings with those living near the Adelaide rail crossing, noting a project this size will have a significant effect on the nearby community.
 
Patrick Maloney.