THUNDER BAY — Work on the $13 million north core streetscape project is moving to the next phase, meaning Red River Road is now closed to vehicles from Cumberland Street all the way to Court Street.
But pedestrians may continue to access businesses on both sides of Red River Road.
The multi-year project includes rebuilding streets and sidewalks in the downtown core to improve walkability, support more public events, and expand patio and vendor space.
Aging underground infrastructure - such as watermains and sanitary sewers - is also being replaced, and crews are taking out streetcar tracks that were paved over decades ago.
The intersection at Cumberland and Red River was closed in May to permit construction to start. It's not expected to reopen until late summer while work continues on other portions of Red River.
City project engineer Brian Newman said Tuesday he hopes all of Red River will be reopened to traffic by the end of October.
"That's always the plan. If weather goes well, we're hoping for mid-November at the latest, but the actual thoroughfare itself will be open, guaranteed, this year."
Newman said some decorative elements of the streetscape project may not be completed until 2025.
He said Nadin Contracting and its subcontractors are doing a good job and are trying their best to minimize inconvenience to businesses and their customers.
"There's definitely going to be some overnight connection work with some of the businesses, when we actually tie them in for sewer and water connections. There will be some late nights and possibly early mornings . . . We keep the sidewalks in as best walkable condition as we can."
Newman added that the Waterfront District Business Improvement Area has taken care to keep businesses informed of the work schedule and how it impacts them.
"Businesses are open here as usual . . . We just want people to use the parking on the extremities of the project. There's lots of it, and the parkade is always there . . . Hopefully when the finished product is here, people will be happy."
In an interview earlier this year, BIA executive director Kara Pratt said: "We know there's disruptions, but the end product looks like it's going to be pretty great. It's going to be incredible."
