Road Construction Update – Thunder Bay – August 17 2015

THUNDER BAY – Construction Update – Summer in Thunder Bay, or as often called, construction season continues.

The busy road work season continues around the city, including road and sidewalk rehabilitation, residential paving, sewer and watermain repair/replacement, bridge work and streetlight renewal.

The City of Thunder Bay is investing $40 million on these improvements and related infrastructure, including $380,000 in the Enhanced Infrastructure Renewal Program Capital Budget in 2015. Road work can result in road closures, detours and delays for drivers. Drivers should reduce their speed, be alert, watch for workers and drive with extra care in construction zones.

Temporary street closures for events will be in effect:

• Westfort Street Fair – Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 am to 7 pm, Frederica Street from 135 E. Frederica St. to 220 W. Frederica St., Brown Street from the intersection of Frederica Street to south of Frederica Street, and Edward Street from the intersection of Frederica Street to south of Edward Street.
• Ribfest – Thursday, Aug. 27 to Sunday, Aug. 30 as follows (note, streets will remain closed at night):
  – Thursday, Aug. 27 to Sunday, Aug. 30 from 6 am to 11 pm, Park Avenue from Cumberland Street to Court Street,
  – Saturday, Aug. 29 from 6 am to 11 pm, Red River Road from Court Street to St. Paul Street,

– Sunday, Aug. 30 from 6 am to 8 pm, Red River Road from Court Street to Cumberland Street,
– Sunday, Aug. 30 from 6 am to 8 pm, St. Paul Street from Red River Road to Van Norman Street

• Carnival & Open House – Saturday, Aug. 29 from 8 am to 9 pm, McBean Street from Faircrest Street to Montgomery Street                                                         

The following areas are currently undergoing or are scheduled for road and other major infrastructure work that is expected to affect traffic. 

Sewer & Watermain Work

• May Street between Dease Street and Miles Street is scheduled for road reconstruction including the reconstruction of the watermain, sanitary sewer and new streetscaping.
• The project will begin in late June and continue for approximately 16 weeks. Work will proceed in stages, beginning with the section of May Street between Dease Street and Bethune Street. May Street will be completely closed in this section; please use posted detours.
• Gore Street from Crawford Avenue to James Street S. will undergo stripping and repaving, along with installation of new curbs and gutters.
• Mary Street W. between Neebing Avenue and Crawford Place is slated for road and watermain construction. The road will be closed to through traffic. Local access will be available at each end of the construction zone.
• Storm sewer and paving work continues on the residential streets in the Mary Street neighbourhood: Holt Place, Georgina Bay and Nipigon Avenue.
• Brown Street from Brock Street to Walsh Street is slated for road reconstruction with new sewers and watermains. The curb and gutter will be replaced along with sections of sidewalks. The road will be open to local traffic, but closed during some of the deeper excavation work.
• Woodlawn Avenue, Ironwood Avenue and Kensington Drive will be closed to local traffic for installation of new storm sewers and replacement of existing watermains. The roads will be reconstructed complete with new curbs and gutters.
• Storm sewer construction in the Syndicate Avenue/Durban Street area is expected to proceed in July. Local access only with possible driveway disruption. The project will include detouring of traffic on Northern Avenue.
• Storm and sanitary sewer work is scheduled to commence on McIntosh Street between the Neebing/McIntyre Floodway and Southern Avenue. The area will be local access only.

Road, Street Lighting & Sidewalk Improvements

• The next stage of the Golf Links Road project has commenced. The project includes new active transportation corridor development. Road construction and lane widening will take place between Linden Court and John Street. Golf Links Road will be closed to through traffic, and detours posted via Oliver Road/John Street and Balmoral Street. The Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre, businesses on Golf Links Road and the River Terrace residential subdivision will be accessible to local traffic via Oliver Road.
• Arthur Street between Waterloo Street and Edward Street, and Edward Street between Victoria Avenue W. and Arthur Street, may have periodic curb lane closures as remaining construction work is completed on driveways and boulevards.
• Arundel Street Active Transportation Corridor: the bicycle lanes and multiuse trail on Arundel Street will be updated this year to include physical separation between vehicular traffic and walking/cycling traffic with the use of flexible bollards and paint line reconfiguration. Intermittent lane closures may be necessary.
• The section of Lyon Boulevard from Arundel to the Boulevard Lake main parking lot is currently closed to southbound traffic while the trail is being restored with pedestrian trail traffic detoured to the southbound lane of Lyon through this section.
• Road reconstruction and widening for multi-use lane is underway on Hudson Avenue between Huron Avenue and Toledo Street. Watch for road closures as the work proceeds.
• Road widening and reconstruction work is underway on Walnut Street / Tarbutt Street between Ford Street and the cul-de-sac on Tarbutt Street. Local access only. Some driveway disruption is expected.
• Road reconstruction work is underway on Pioneer Drive between Woodcrest Road and Nottingham Crescent. Watch for road closures as work proceeds. Some driveway disruption is expected.
• Road resurfacing and local improvement work on Grenville Avenue between Arundel Street and Erie Street is underway. Watch for road closures as the work proceeds. Some driveway disruption is expected.
• Drainage improvements on Van Norman Street west of Duke Street are expected to start shortly. Watch for lane closures as the work proceeds. Some driveway disruption is expected.
• Broadway Avenue between Glenwood Crescent and Highway 61 is scheduled for pavement resurfacing. Watch for road closures with local access only as work proceeds.
• Pavement resurfacing of Broad Oaks Place and Oaks Heights Place is scheduled to commence shortly. Watch for road closures with local access only as work proceeds.
• Pavement resurfacing of Hodder Avenue between Arundel Street and Highway 11/17 will be commencing shortly. Watch for lane closures as the work proceeds. Some driveway disruption is expected.
• Residential paving is slated for Almira Avenue, Bourdeaux Crescent, and Collins Place.
• Replacement/rebuilding of traffic signals is expected to proceed at the intersection of James Street and Churchill Drive. Watch for lane closures and for the new four-way stop control as work proceeds.
• Road resurfacing at the intersection of West Riverdale Road and 20^th Sideroad is expected to commence shortly. Watch for lane closures as the work proceeds.
• Conversion of Sandy Beach Road to gravel surface between Whiskey Jack Crescent and Grand Point Road will commence shortly. Watch for road closure with local access only as work proceeds.
• Culverts along the east leg of County Park Boulevard between York and Brant will be replaced during the month of August. The road will be closed and detours will be posted during construction.
• New & replacement sidewalk projects on Bay Street, sections of Humber Crescent and Mountdale Avenue are scheduled for this month. Local traffic only in the construction areas. Some driveway disruption is anticipated.

The above list includes major, traffic-affecting construction only. Other work, including sidewalk replacements and curb and gutter repairs, is scheduled for residential areas and other areas around the City. The schedule is subject to change.