GOOD NEWS ON DAY 2 OF BAY & BEYOND AS WORK OFF TO FAST START — AND MAYBE QUICK AUTUMN END
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
GRAVENHURST — Trisan Construction wasted no time getting to road work today.
That’s good news for drivers, businesses and homeowners at the west end of Bay Street.
A 100-metre long stretch of Hwy. 169 — in front of the Muskoka Wharf — was already torn up by crews eager to get the job done this summer and fall.
Great weather meant Coon Bros. and Robinson Haulage trucks could cart away tons of asphalt as Trisan’s “A-team” took advantage of yesterday’s road closure at the bottom end of Bay.
Heavy equipment ripped a strip of pavement down to its dirty core all morning and afternoon. Fences of bright silver steel were erected. That got the schedule off to a great start.
Most of the work from North Muldrew Lake Road to the east entrance to the retail area will be primarily be surface work — including some storm basins.
Much of it though will be adding wider walkways on both sides of the road.
The pathway next to the basketball court, splash pad and public washrooms will connect to trails that connect to the old rail line and link to the James Street ball park and also the Muldrew intersection — which already has a sidewalk connection leading up the hill toward the Muskoka Bay housing and golf club.
Trisan foreman Joe Oliviera says that because of original Wharf construction 20 years when new infrastructure was put in little in the way of water, sewer and groundwater piping is required today.
But when crews begin their phase two ascent uphill past Cherokee Lane, that’s when the serious digging and installations tear up Bay & Beyond.
All this is good news on Day 2 of construction and disruption.
Which means it could all be done and complete as early as even mid-autumn if everything goes as planned — without any SNAFUS of course.
“Josh” — who was staffing the east entrance (and likely all summer) turning away wayward cars and trucks — said he was kept busy “in waves” redirecting them.
So far many drivers relying on their Wave GPS to guide them are out of luck.
Luckily for passengers finding the Wenonah II cruises and hitting the waves this week are more fortunate with the Cherokee Lane entrance and parking lot open and accessible.
However at least one business owner Pam Harris said she’s already seen a drop in business yesterday and today at her Blue Willow Tea Room.
Her neighbour Sara Goosman, owner of the Polar Dip Ice Cream Shoppe, remains optimist after a few dismal years during COVID.
A walk around A.P. Cockburn Square still seemed cheery enough with the local Hiccup uke group strumming away on their four-stringers under cover of the gazebo there — with a few browsers stopping to listen to their weekly outdoor practice.
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