November 27, 2024

BAY STREET REOPENING TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC ANY DAY NOW AFTER MONTHS OF PIPING, PAVING IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — After months of digging, piping and paving, phase 2 of the Bay & Beyond-schedule reconstruction is due to reopen within days of winter’s first snowfall overnight.

Two-way traffic is expected to resume late Thursday or early Friday between Greavette Street and Cherokee Lane with just a few more signs, lines and possibly lights to put up.

The opening includes the section between the sports field traffic light and Cherokee Lane.

So it will be clear sailing top to bottom.

It’s been long haul for the hardworking crews who replaced water, sewer and storm pipes.

A new sidewalk was unveiled Monday along with road markings. And sod spray was spewen on the boulevard yesterday.

“Green side up, boys.”

There’s still critical lighting standards, banners and flower pots yet to be replaced at some point after decades of neglect and pleading for replacements by neighbours along the west entrance to the Gateway town.

“Dark sky, friendly,” please.

**A final Trisan drive-by this morning made for an almost good to go for when traffic will resume back and forth any day now.**

But the major transit route work begun last June at North Muldrew Lake Road will now allow vehicles to proceed up into the town core’s main street — and in reverse out west toward Bala and Port Carling.

For the winter Bay Street will be fully open until about March — when crews will do it all over again destined east for the post office during phase 3.

Good luck to homeowners along that six-block stretch turning the bend around past Hotchkiss Street. Construction will again be long and onerous — pending obstacles. It’s an ordeal all around.

At that point come March traffic will be rerouted up and down Brown Street at Greavette.

Meanwhile, drivers who have become accustomed to last May’s paved detour on James Street all this summer and fall will get December, January and February off before returning to that much busier roadway.

The three-year, $10-million District of Muskoka and Town of Gravenhurst infrastructure project includes a final phase 4 down Brock Street to Bethune Drive in 2026.