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Thu, 18 Apr 2019
The Town of Oakville officially broke ground to mark the beginning of the much anticipated Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project, the town’s $20 million investment to revitalize Downtown Oakville.
“Downtown Oakville is the heart of our community and we are excited to get this project underway and move forward with a vibrant Lakeshore Road that shows the best of Oakville’s history and livability,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Downtown Oakville will be open throughout the construction with a pop-up park, various community events and parking program.”
A mitigation strategy is being implemented to minimize the impact of construction is based on the findings and interviews with other municipalities that recently underwent similar construction projects, as well as interviews with town residents, businesses and other municipal stakeholders, including the Downtown Oakville BIA, Executive Director, Sharlene Plewman.
“We are grateful for the community’s ongoing support through this process,” said Ms. Plewman. “Their support is our greatest mitigation to ensure this project is a success and that Downtown remains a vibrant community gathering place for everyone to enjoy this year and for years to come.”
The reconstruction of Lakeshore Road is scheduled to be completed in two phases over a two-year period. The first phase from Navy Street to Dunn Street will begin on April 22 and be completed in November 2019. The second phase from Dunn Street to Allan Street will be from April to November 2020, reopening in time for the Santa Claus parade.
The project will include enhanced roadways, beautified streets, tree-lined boulevards and improved pedestrian and cycle ways, increasing connectivity, mobility and accessibility in downtown. The flexible design will facilitate access for special events and festivals. A two-metre marking zone in front of each storefront will enable restaurants and retailers to use street space as part of their downtown presence. In addition, new traditional streetscape furnishings (streetlights, benches, bike rings and bollards) will maintain the character of the main street.
Balancing new technology with downtown’s historic charm, smart city elements will be incorporated into the project, such as public Wi-Fi, people counters, vehicle counters and electric vehicle charging stations.
For information throughout the project, retailers, landlords, residents and visitors are encouraged to visit with staff at the Project Office at 193 Church Street, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and by appointment at any time.
Details and weekly updates are also posted on the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project web page.
With Lakeshore Road East coming to the end of its lifespan and needing a major reconstruction, the town undertook extensive research and public consultation to identify broader opportunities to improve traffic, beautify streets and improve pedestrian/cycle ways in the downtown. In 2015, Council approved the Downtown Transportation and Streetscape Study (DTS) which includes the following projects: the Lakeshore Bridge Rehabilitation, the Two-Way Street Conversion, and the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project. In April 2018, Council approved the final design for the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project.