Centennial Drive will be open to the public before the year is through, city officials pledge.
With road reconstruction proceeding, the major two-lane street that takes traffic along Orillia's waterfront should be open to traffic this fall, a senior city manager said in a memo to city councillors circulated Friday.
Other aspects of the $17.8 million project, however, will continue through the winter and spring.
Installation of a new stormwater treatment structure, the Stormcepter Maxx, will continue through the fall and winter, which will delay the Centennial Park boat launch parking lot reconstruction until the spring of 2024.
Currently, dewatering work is taking place near French’s Stand to install the stormwater infrastructure.
“The dewatering work that is currently underway in this area is to enable the deep excavation and installation for the stormwater quality control structure,” said Ian Sugden, general manager of development services and engineering, in a statement to OrilliaMatters.
“All dewatering work is being completed in compliance with a permit to take water, issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.”
City staff anticipate the boat launch parking lot will be ready for next year’s boating season. To expedite the process, the replacement of a storm sewer beneath the parking lot has been rolled into Phase 2 of the reconstruction project.
Aside from the boat launch parking lot, staff anticipate other waterfront parking lots will re-open this fall.
Last year, city staff anticipated Phase 2 of the Centennial Drive reconstruction project would be complete by spring 2023.
Phase 2 includes the construction of sanitary sewers and watermains on Centennial Drive, construction of underground stormwater structures, burying overhead power lines, as well as road reconstruction and realignment in the Canice Street/Centennial Drive/Mississaga Street corridor between Brant Street East and Front Street.
City staff anticipate Phase 3 of the project, which includes the Coldwater Street extension/intersection with Centennial Drive, will be complete this fall, as well, and staff say the esplanade (to be renamed Veterans’ Way) will also re-open this fall.
