The 16th Street East rehabilitation project in Owen Sound is progressing towards completion, with city officials expecting the work will wrap up in the next four to five weeks.
Owen Sound’s Director of Public Works and Engineering Dennis Kefalas says starting Monday crews will be working to finish new sidewalks, restore impacted commercial properties adjacent to the construction zone and complete remaining landscaping.
The rehabilitation of 16th Street East between 9th and 16th Avenues East started last summer, when watermain replacement, storm sewer improvements and road resurfacing was completed.
Kefalas notes drivers may experience some delays and added traffic congestion over the next several weeks as the remaining work is done. Pedestrians will also encounter sidewalk closures.
Transit routes won’t be impacted, but Kefalas notes bus stops along 16th Street East near the Wendy’s Restaurant and Pioneer Gas Bar may close temporarily.
Owen Sound received more than $900,000 through a Connecting Links grant from the provincial government to fund part of the 16th Street rehabilitation project.
A central shopping area in Owen Sound and the main route for traffic heading to and from Meaford, The Blue Mountains and Collingwood, 16th Street East was identified by the city as a priority to rehabilitate as the road had worn significantly.
The original plan was to re-build 16th Street East between 9th and 18th Avenues East, but the initial phase of reconstruction was scaled back after bids for the work came in higher than expected.
City council awarded a $2.2-million tender to Harold Sutherland Construction in July 2020 for the project.
Kefalas notes the city made an application for Connecting Links funding to finish the area between 16th and 18th Avenues East that was not successful this year.
“Hopefully, next year we will be able to be awarded additional funding and we can finish off the last phase,” Kefalas adds.