Meet the guys who’ll be fixing Queen Street next week

Representatives of downtown businesses met Thursday night with city officials and the people who'll be turning Queen Street into a construction zone starting Monday.

The businesses learned that initially, Queen Street will be reduced to one lane between Spring and March streets, while the sidewalk on the north side will remain open for patrons visiting local businesses.

But a lot of underground services including sanitary sewers and watermains need to be replaced between Elgin and March.

So later in the summer, that part of Queen Street will be fully closed for six weeks.

"Between March and Elgin, that’s the block with old city sewers that haven’t been replaced in a hundred years, we will need full closure to be able to do our work." said Josh Maahs, Queen Street site supervisor with general contractor Avery Construction Ltd.

“Full closure as in vehicle traffic. We’re going to hope to keep pedestrians moving through. There are residents that live there that are going to need access," Maahs said.

“Some point in August is our plan right now. Six weeks.”

Maahs said he's hoping to wrap up the job by the end of October.

Co-owner Brent Avery said Avery Construction built the downtown plaza and he's been involved in 15 to 20 other big road projects.

Adam Lyons, another co-owner, said: "It’ll be nice with the revitalization. We’ll get people coming downtown a little bit more. We’re looking forward to it.”

"Aesthetically it’s going to look nice. People seem to like the brick work. I think it will look good when it’s done," added Josh Maahs.

Upwards of 30 or 40 workers, counting subtrades, may be working on the project at some points.

Much of the work will be done by four-person crews, some specializing in things like asphalt, concrete or underground piping.

Darrell Maahs, a project manager with consulting firm AECOM, talked to SooToday about the deciduous trees that will frame the new Queen Street.

"There's going to be some areas where they're going to be in soil cells: underground, a very large volume of soil for the trees to grow," Maahs said.

"Other locations, there's going to be planters: a precast wall that comes above grade a couple feet."

The city will also be adding shrubs and other smaller plants.

Below is the full text of a news release issued Thursday from the City of Sault Ste. Marie:

Beginning Monday, May 27, 2024, Queen Street will be reduced to one lane between Spring Street and March Street to accommodate construction. While the lane reduction is in effect, the sidewalk on the north side of Queen Street will remain open for patrons visiting local businesses. Those needing access beyond this block should use the sidewalk on the south side.

During this time, traffic signals at the intersection of Spring Street and Queen Street will be removed and replaced with stop signs. These signals will not be reinstalled. Instead, a pedestrian crossover (PXO) with stop control on Spring Street will be constructed on Queen Street. 

Transit users should note that the bus stop located just east of Spring Street will be temporarily removed. Other bus stops on Queen Street will be available.

Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists should be cautious in the area and follow all posted signage. The Queen Street Improvements Phase 1 project is expected to reach substantial completion by late fall with some work possibly extending into 2025 depending on the final project limits. For the latest information on this project, visit www.saultstemarie.ca/queenstreet.