Major construction project could mean big changes for Balmoral Street

THUNDER BAY -- A major construction project on Balmoral Street could bring new uses to the area.

The multi-phase plan would see the road from the McIntyre River to Beverly Street completely redone with multi-use trails, boulevards, sidewalks and the current ditches that run on both sides of the street replaced with storm sewers.

Already in the proposed capital budget for next year, the first part of the project from the river to Alloy Drive is expected to cost around $4.2 million.

Project engineer Mike Vogrig said pavement conditions on the road is bad enough that it needs to be replaced but the road itself isn't so bad that it needs to be completely dug up, which would cost even more should the city wait.

Since the pavement is being redone, the city thinks it's also a good time to replace the ditches with boulevards and either multi-use trails on both sides of the street or a trail on one side and a sidewalk on the other.

"If you walk down Balmoral currently with the open ditches you can see these little cow trails where people are traversing them anyway," he said.

"By making these improvements we can provide a safer corridor for the people already using it and hopefully make other people who maybe have been weary or maybe driving a car rather than taking a short walk because they didn't feel comfortable on it, making that choice rather than driving through the corridor instead." 

Public consultation is about to wrap up on the project. Vogrig said businesses had concerns about traffic, cyclists want to see trails on both sides while accessibility groups want to see safe crossings, especially in places like the Harbour Expressway intersection.

City staff will go over those comments and come up with a final design. Vogrig is hoping to see tendering go out and work begin by the summer construction season.