THUNDER BAY – The Golf Links Road and Junot Avenue corridor expansion project is finally reaching the end of the road.
The $4.1-million contract for the final phase, which will four-lane the stretch of Junot Avenue between John and Walkover streets, was awarded by Thunder Bay city council to Bruno's Contracting on Monday night.
The third stage of the corridor expansion finishes off the multi-year endeavour to four-lane the roadway between the Harbour Expressway and Red River Road, a process that began a decade ago when the city initiated the project design in 2009. Construction began in 2013 with the first phase between the Harbour Expressway and Oliver Road, continuing in 2014 and 2015 from Oliver Road to John Street.
The final phase was included in this year's capital budget, but had been contingent upon the city receiving federal dollars to help pay for the multi-million dollar repairs and upgrades to the Boulevard Lake Dam. The city and federal government representatives on May 31 announced Thunder Bay would be receiving $13.2 million from the Natural Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, with a significant portion of that amount earmarked for the century-old dam.
Along with road widening, the project includes new sidewalks on both sides of Junot Avenue and the continuation of the multi-use trail from John Street to Windsor Street, extending the Golf Links Road trail corridor to the Windsor Street active living corridor.
A pedestrian crossover will be installed at Junot Avenue and Windsor Street.
The work is scheduled to be completed in November, though city administration noted that some components including top lift paving and final landscaping may continue next spring.
Council on Monday also voted to go ahead with nearly $3 million for road work projects. That contract includes repaving Victoria Avenue between Edward and Lillie streets, rebuilding the Donald Street and Syndicate Avenue intersection with repaving and watermain and sanitary sewer replacement along Donald between Vickers and May streets and a new parking lot at the Oliver Road Recreational Centre.
A $1.7-million contract was awarded for storm sewer projects on the city's south side, including the extension of a James Street storm sewer from the Neebing Bridge to Victoria Avenue, doubling the capacity of the existing system. As well, a new storm sewer will be built along Donald Street between Tarbutt and Waterloo streets, existing catch basins along Pacific Avenue between Spring and Simpson streets will be transferred from the sanitary sewer to a new storm sewer, a new storm sewer on Oakdale Crescent will divert ponding stormwater to the Leland Street trunk sewer and catch basins will be added on Grey Street between Moodie and Walsh streets.
