Downtown residents take note, your opinion about the reconstruction of Queen Street will be sought before any major decisions are made.
AECOM Canada is currently providing engineering services for the reconstruction of Queen Street - from Simpson to Pine Street - and city council commissioned them to complete a study on the feasibility of converting that area from four to three lanes; which city staff say is more relateable to the design and construction of this project.
Jerry Dolcetti, city commissioner of engineering and planning, said access to Queen from Pim and Simpson Street will be available this fall and the project should be completed next summer.
Dolcetti said city staff is still debating whether to drop a lane on Queen Street and letters will be sent to affected residents informing them of the situation and seeking their opinion.
"There are opinions on both sides and we will be sure to hear both," said Dolcetti. "We will be sending out all the necessary information to ensure neighbors and residents are informed."
AECOM has been overseeing construction activities on behalf of the city and they have field staff on site on a full-time basis.
Any questions or concerns regarding the construction may be directed to Darrell Maahs of AECOM Canada at 705-942-2612 or Carl Rumiel, design and construction engineer at 705-759-5379.
If staff determines to change from four lanes to three, Dolcetti said it will involve painting lanes so they could change back easily if needed.
"The decision to change to three lanes will not happen without significant consultation from affected residents," he said.
Following completion of this project, city staff will shift their attention to resurfacing the area from Pine Street to the Sault Ste. Marie Country Club on Queen Street East.
The budget for the Queen Street project is $515,000 from the 2013 Capital Road Construction Plan, approved by city council in May.
This summer, the city has undertaken three other road reconstruction projects: John Street – Bloor Street to Elm Street, White Oak Drive – Carmen’s Way to North Street and Euclid Road – Pim Street to Wemyss Street.
All four reconstruction projects include storm and sanitary sewers, water main, road, sidewalk, and property restoration.
Roads have been closed since June and are expected to re-open in October.
The Queen Street reconstruction should cause a bounce in the steps for those walking in the area.
Part of the project includes the installation of a rubber sidewalk to be installed on the south side of Queen Street from Pim to Church Street.
Rubber for the walkway will come from recycled tires, but it won't look anything like tires when they're done with it.
Instead it will be put together like interlocking bricks.
While the long term maintenance costs for a rubber sidewalk are expected to be lower, it will cost more in the short term.
The cost of installing sidewalk in 2011 was $75 per square metre, while the rubber sidewalk will cost $110 per square metre.
Therefore, the city estimates it will cost approximately $17,000 to install a rubber sidewalk compared to $12,000 for concrete.
Editor's note: The photograph used to illustrate this story does not necessary depict or represent what the section of Queen Street in question would look like as a three lane road.