The City of North Bay says the Making Over Main Street project is set to mark a significant milestone as construction activities transition to the next block.
MCA Contracting will be moving its operations from Block 5 (Sherbrooke Street to Wyld Street) to Block 4 (Wyld Street to Ferguson Street) beginning Aug. 21. During this transition, traffic control detours will be relocated, and pedestrian fencing will be installed along both sides of the street.
Once this transition is complete, MCA Contracting will begin the removal process for this section, including the existing interlock brick and curb.
Block 5 (Sherbrooke to Wyld streets) is nearing substantial completion and will fully reopen to both vehicles and pedestrians. The contractor will return to this block later to install trees, benches, and festoon lighting, as well as new streetlight poles, which have been delayed due to manufacturer supply challenges. The supplier is committed to providing an updated delivery date late next month.
The City and the contractor will work together to arrange and install temporary lighting to ensure a safe and well-lit environment for pedestrians.
To learn more about the Making Over Main Street project, including background and frequently asked questions and answers, please click here.
In early July, the traffic lights at Main Street East and Wyld Street were deactivated and the intersection has temporarily become an all-way stop. This intersection will remain an all-way stop until Blocks 4 and 5 of the Making Over Main Street project are complete later this fall.
The project officially got underway in May as traffic barriers and detour signage was put in place on the block of Main Street East from Sherbrooke Street to Wyld Street and nearby side streets. This block is closed to vehicular traffic until August. Short detours are in place. Pedestrian access to businesses remains open.
See related: Downtown businesses to remain open during reconstruction project
This phase of the project, which includes the block of Main East bounded by Wyld and Ferguson is scheduled to be completed in early November. The project is set to resume in April 2024 and is tentatively scheduled for completion later that fall. Each block is expected to take up to three months to complete. Only once a block has been fully reconstructed will the contractor proceed to the next block.
See also: Switcheroo for Main Street project
In late April, the City of North Bay adjusted the starting location of the project following the feedback of the membership of downtown businesses and with the cooperation of the contractor. This change will have no impact on the project cost or completion date.
The $8.85-million Making Over Main Street project involves the reconstruction of Main Street between Sherbrooke and Cassells, as well as a section of Ferguson Street between Main and Oak. It is the first major renovation of Main Street in nearly 40 years. New above-ground infrastructure will be installed, including road base, curb and gutter, concrete crosswalks, exposed aggregate accent sidewalk, concrete sidewalk, traffic control system, streetlight upgrades, festoon lighting, asphalt paving and other ancillary works.
