PARTIAL OPENING OF BAY STREET WEEK OF AUG. 19 — BUT PHASE 2 MEANS MORE DETOURS, HEADACHES FOR RESIDENTS

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — The word on the street is that Bay Street won’t be fully open until at least November.

Trisan Construction was going door-to-door this afternoon informing residents and businesses located in the second phase area of the redevelopment of the Bay & Beyond road construction that it will be the week of Aug. 19 before any traffic can reach the intersection of the sports field.

Nick Miandro, who was handing out maps and info, was telling them that as of “sometime that week” Bay Street will be closed from Cherokee Lane up to Hughson Street for about three months as planned.

He said the exact date will be announced next week.

Last Friday the District of Muskoka, who is contracting the work, said on its website the road was open to two-way traffic, which is still won’t be for 10 or more days, as reported by MuskokaTODAY.com

Meanwhile, a short section of road closed since June at the North Muldrew Lake Road and Hwy. 169 intersection — and paved last week — will open part way in just over a week at the sports field and traffic light intersection.

That will allow the splash pad, washrooms, basketball court and field to become accessible again after three months.

More parking spaces were also added there.

And it will free up access to the Wharf condos, the Marriott Hotel and the Muskoka Discovery Centre.

It also means the James Street detour will continue until at least November this year, before work ceases for the winter and resumes up to the Muskoka Road main street next spring, summer and fall.

For affected businesses at the Muskoka Wharf — including the Muskoka Steamships — this means another short detour to board the Segwun and Wenonah II.

A worry expressed today by John Miller, president and manager of the popular tourism attraction.

To reach the ships, buses, cars and trucks will have to drive down Bay and turn left onto Burnett Street to reach the Cherokee Lane intersection — where they will be allowed to cross Bay Street to get to the parking lot.

Getting to the them from the west of Muskoka like Bala and Port Carling in means going up James Street, down Bay onto Burnett and to the lake.

Bay Street will be closed at Hughson Street and also at Greavette Street at the Bay Street corner where MuskokaTODAY.com has its office.

Which for more than a dozen residents and business on Bay Street, the water, storm and sanitary sewer construction inconvenience will force home and business owner vehicles out of their driveways.

They will be relocated to a dedicated parking lot somewhere “nearby” in the neighbourhood, Miandro said.

He also added that Trian staff will pick up garbage bags, green and blue boxes each Monday along that stretch at their property lines weekly as usual.

All this new work means the remaining short unpaved section of road at the Wharf where new sidewalk construction ended (adjacent to the Lion’s Pavilion) entrance won’t be finished paving until a final pave is done up Bay Street to Hughson Street.