The Dunlop Street construction that has snarled traffic along downtown’s main artery is almost complete as crews put the final touches on the year-long project.
The $15.7-million reconstruction project began in August 2019 and has seen work in different sections during various phases, hindering both pedestrian and vehicular traffic at times during the past several months.
Final top-layer asphalt is being laid down and some fixtures are now being installed. Weather permitting, construction is expected to be done in the coming weeks and Dunlop Street should reopen by late-November.
With the end in sight, Downtown BIA chair Rob Hamilton says it's time to focus on getting people back into the heart of the city.
“We now have pedestrian- and patio-friendly sidewalks. We have parking spaces and parking lots, a place of assembly and a performance stage,” Hamilton said. “Now we have to make the most of these assets to improve the downtown experience.”
Yo Taco! owner Alexandra Hunter says she's glad to hear there will soon be an end to all of the construction, especially at the Five Points where her restaurant is located.
“It's already been a difficult time for us with COVID and the bar closures, plus with the construction and barriers it has made us almost impossible to get to," Hunter told BarrieToday. "Unfortunately, because we are on a one-way street, most people don't think they can come down Clapperton and there was no signage indicating that it is OK, even though there are always cars parked in the area from those that work downtown."
Hunter says access has definitely been one of Yo Taco's biggest challenges. She hopes that once the barriers are down and the roads reopen that “we will see the return of our regulars as well as new clientele.”
The multi-million-dollar Dunlop Street project replaced aging infrastructure in the downtown. Above ground, the work has included wider sidewalks, while providing downtown businesses with more attractive and accessible storefronts. New streetlights, planters and trees make for a new look and a greener downtown appearance.
However, there are a few more steps that need to be completed before the project wraps up completely, including some work at the Five Points intersection and the farther west at the Toronto Street intersection. Installation of fixtures — such as tree guards, light posts, traffic signals, bollards, waste/recycling bins, and pay-and-display parking stations — will be done along Dunlop Street in the next few weeks.
A final paving on Dunlop Street — Bayfield Street to Toronto Street, as well as side streets — will be done in mid- to late-November.
As the construction moved east to west, many businesses west of Bayfield Street will be some of the last to be affected by the work.
Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers owner Adam Le Boeuf told BarrieToday that his Dunlop Street West shop just celebrated 62 years in the same location on Nov. 1 and he says the construction work was much-needed.
“I don’t know if the west end (of Dunlop Street) has been neglected over the years, but it has been the grittier, edgier end of town," he said.
Le Boeuf said they were able to endure several obstacles during the ongoing project, but he's glad the end is in sight.
"The construction and COVID-19 definitely caused us to have to find new ways to operate and we have made our online presence more relevant,” he said. “But there are a few weeks left at this end, so we’ll just see it through and look forward to how great it is already starting to look.”
“I’m sure residents and businesses alike will be pleased to see this project completed," Mayor Jeff Lehman said. "The purpose of the project is to create a larger and more enjoyable pedestrian environment on Dunlop Street, which has been a goal for decades in Barrie. This will help support the economy of downtown and the hard-hit small business and restaurant sector as we move into the Christmas shopping season.”
The Toronto Street and Five Points intersections remain closed until construction is completed and detours are in place. To assist with access and traffic flow, Mary Street from Dunlop Street to Ross Street is temporarily a two-way street and will remain so until the project is complete. Barrie Transit routes 2, 3, 6, and 8 are also on detour until the construction is done.
Two-hour free parking is available at the Chase McEachern Way (including the 15 Bayfield St. lot) and Maple Avenue Central parking lots. This is in effect until construction is complete in late-November.
As well, the Chase McEachern Way lot will have free two-hour parking in December, in addition to the city’s two-hour free street parking downtown for holiday shopping.
Visit the BIA’s website to find out more about local shops, restaurants, and services. Visit the city’s website for the latest on parking.
