The City of North Bay will be initiating detailed design for significant upgrades to a section of Seymour Street from Station Street to Wallace Road, according to a news release.
The City says this project will enhance road safety, improve traffic flow, and upgrade critical infrastructure, with construction tentatively scheduled to begin in the spring of 2025 and expected to be completed by December 2026.
See related: Engineering work secured for major Seymour Street reconstruction
Project Highlights
- Road Expansion: Widening Seymour Street to three lanes (eastbound, westbound, and a centre turn lane) for improved traffic flow.
- Intersection Improvements: Redesign of the Seymour/Commerce/Venture intersection with wider lanes, a large curb radius for truck traffic, and new traffic lights with pedestrian crossings.
- Pedestrian and Cyclist Infrastructure: Addition of paved shoulders on both sides of Seymour Street and a new concrete sidewalk on the north side, connecting to future sidewalk projects.
- Water System Upgrade: Installation of a new 600 mm trunk watermain, hydrants, and watermain looping to enhance water flow and service reliability.
- Retaining Wall: A 120-metre-long reinforced retaining wall will provide support for the widened road and sidewalk.
- Drainage Improvements: Realignment of ditches and culverts to improve stormwater management.
The design will reflect the Schedule C, Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) completed in December 2012. Given the time elapsed since the original assessment, an Addendum – now open to a 30-day public review and comment period – has been issued to ensure that the project and mitigation measures originally recommended in the 2012 Environmental Study Report are still valid given the current planning context. Interested parties are encouraged to review the Environmental Study Report Addendum and provide comments by January 10, 2025.
Construction, which is subject to approval as part of the City’s 2025 capital budget, is estimated at approximately $10 million – a portion of which will be funded through Ontario's Northern Ontario Resource Development Support Fund.
During construction, one lane of traffic will remain open in each direction to ensure access to local businesses and safe travel through the work zone. A dedicated Contractor Liaison will be available to assist property owners with concerns and ensure access is maintained.
