As the first day of spring approaches on March 20, Barrie drivers’ thoughts naturally turn — out of necessity — to potholes, asphalt cracks and other road divets which lead to bumpy, and sometimes even dangerous, rides on city streets.
Not to mention the fear of flat tires and scraped, even dented, vehicle undercarriages.
One road contributing more than its share to these bumpy rides is Mary Street, a one-way street nestled in the downtown, running parallel to Maple Avenue.
“It’s terrible. It’s not good for my business,” said a woman who has owned property on Mary street for a decade, but did not want her name used. “People complain about it.
“It’s zero stars if we are talking about a five-star rating,” she added. “I think the City of Barrie should be encouraging small business.”
Mary Street, between Ross and Dunlop West streets, has some residences but its mostly business — hair studios, a restaurant, estate litigation, interior design, art supplies, health care, a liquor store and a massage parlour.
And they all have one street’s condition in common.
In the city’s latest pavement condition index, from 2023, Mary Street is rated "very poor" — as are eight per cent of Barrie streets.
And it’s in the city’s queue to be reconstructed, or replaced, with full-depth asphalt removal from Ross Street to 80 metres north of Dunlop Street West.
The city says infrastructure on Mary Street is in poor condition and approaching the end of its useful life. This is coupled with capacity deficiencies, outdated construction standards and related work in the immediate area.
Full reconstruction includes new sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water mains and services, a new road base of asphalt, curb and sidewalk replacements.
But not anytime soon.
The project’s design is slated for 2024-26, its utility relocation (if necessary) in 2026, and construction 2028-29.
Barrie’s pavement condition index, again from 2023, says 46 per cent of city streets are in good condition, 15 per cent are very good, 21 per cent are fair, 10 per cent are poor and eight per cent are in very poor condition.
The latter being where Mary Street ranks.
