Park St. in Kingsville is finally getting a long planned makeover.
One of the town's oldest streets is being rebuilt to include sidewalks, active transportation trails and new waterlines.
The town is getting a provincial grant worth $937,082 towards the $1.954-million project. Sherway Contracting Ltd. out of Windsor is handling the work after coming in as the lowest bidder.
Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos says the reconstruction fits the town's focus on its active trails and waterfront.
"This new stretch will then tie into the Greenway corridor that is adjacent to that as well as to our new park areas with Mettawas Waterfront Park and then leading to Lakeside Park," says Santos.
An overhead view of the stretch of Park St. set to be rebuilt as part of a $1.9-million construction project in Kingsville. (Photo courtesy Google)
Designs for the project were drawn up in 2009, but Santos points to tight budgets as the reason behind the long delay for the project.
"Park St. jumped back into the limelight to this year because of the fact of the timing of the waterline coming due at the same time — everything just finally came together at the right time," says Santos.
He says the town is spending a lot on a small stretch of road, but feels it's well worth the cost.
"We'll have sidewalks, an active transportation trail along the corridor, a clean corridor with improved servicing underground — it's a complete reconstruction project."
The town had set aside $2.2-million for the project which has come in almost $245,442 under budget.
Construction is expected to start after Labour Day and wrap sometime in December. However, the final coat of asphalt won't be laid until next year as a cautionary measure to protect the road from the winter.
Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos attends the regular meeting of council on July 24, 2017. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)