THUNDER BAY – Work on two long-awaited major infrastructure projects at Fort William Historical Park is expected to begin by the end of the year.
Park general manager Sergio Buonocore said the process to build a second access road and enhanced dike along the Kaministiquia River is moving ahead as they hope to get shovels in the ground within the next number of months.
“We’ve conducted numerous studies both on the archeological side and in terms of dealing with things like the endangered species on the river,” Buonocore said.
“They’re moving along to the point where we hope we’ll see construction starting this year. We’re just completing the final phases of the environmental assessment now.”
A new access road has been in the works for at least the past five years, with the Ontario government in 2009 announcing $8 million for infrastructure improvements that included a second connection.
The park had previously purchased two nearby properties for the route. There had been hope that would construction would have begun in 2012.
Buonocore said plans are to have the new road connect to Broadway Avenue about 400 metres east of the existing road. It would remain within the fort’s property.
“It comes down from Broadway and will connect to our amphitheatre and the top of our property,” he said.
The need for a second road became apparent following the 2006 Rock the Fort festival, where traffic was frequently backlogged as crowds exceeded 10,000 people.
Adding another way in or out should help the park facilitate larger crowds for more significant events.
“It will allow us to have smooth flow of traffic with one road coming in and one road going out, which would allow us to pursue those larger concerts and entertainment experiences,” Buonocore said.
It would also better provide another route for emergency services to respond in the case of crisis if the main road were to be blocked, he added.
The fort has been working on a new dike for at least the past three years, in 2012 revealing plans for a three-metre high and two-kilometre flood protection around the park.
Flooding has been a cause for concern in the past with the park being hit by major floods in 1977, 2003, 2006 and 2008. The provincial government spent $2.3 million to help rehabilitate damage from the 2006 flood.
So far water levels on the Kaministiquia River do not seem to be threatening.
“We have no concern this year around flooding,” Buonocore said.
