The Municipality of Port Hope is advancing with the next phase of its multi-million-dollar Walton Street reconstruction project, with construction now anticipated to start in April.
The contract for the project was awarded to Clearway Construction in February.
“Since then, staff have been in communication with the contractor to determine the construction schedule,” said municipal staff. “The focus for 2024 is to replace the underground infrastructure from just east of Queen Street to Cavan Street.”
With details and important dates now confirmed, staff have been working to get the word out about project updates.
Here’s the latest rundown:
On March 25 there will be a public information centre (PIC) meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Town Park Recreation Centre. The session is open to all who want to learn about project timelines, scope of work, and how to stay informed.
Clearway Construction has set a mobilization date of April 22, 2024.
“This is the day you will start to see activity in the area,” explained staff, noting this is when the contractor will start moving in equipment, preparing the area with fencing and signage, and storing material in the Lakeland parking lot.
The following day (April 23) it’s anticipated construction will start with the closure of Walton Street from Mill to Cavan streets. Temporary water installation will start once the road is closed with tie-ins to the existing water services underground, which is safer and minimizes impact to pedestrians, said staff.
John Street will also be temporarily converted to a two-way street for the duration of this phase of the project.
“Our team has been working diligently on crafting comprehensive plans aimed at bolstering resilience, and proactively ensuring the continuity of downtown business and tourism,” stressed staff.
Priorities continue to include developing plans for business continuity, emergency and protective services, active transportation, resident and visitor access, downtown events, activations and celebrations, and communications, reported staff.
Residents are encouraged to stay tuned for updates via porthope.ca.
For 2025, Port Hope plans to allocate resources for the third and final phase of the project, which is to address the remaining area from Cavan to Pine streets.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
