Spring has arrived and that means that it’s time for road construction to begin again in Collingwood.  Collus Executive Director Ed Houghton says that he has a very ambitious timeline in place that should see all remaining construction of some of last year’s major projects wrapped up by early July.

First Street Reconstruction To Begin In April

First Street reconstruction from Rodney Street to High Street is set to resume.  “We will start this project in April and we are anticipating that this can be completed by July 1st.  We’d like to be able by July 1st to have First Street and Hurontario Street downtown completed.  Is that aggressive?  Absolutely.  Do I have contractors, consultants, friends and colleagues upset with me?  Absolutely.  But that’s the date that we’re aiming for" said Collus Executive Director Ed Houghton during a presentation to council on Monday March 22nd.

Mayor Chris Carrier asked Houghton about the First Street connecting link project in respect to government funding.  “I know you had some money in the past, is the cheque in the mail?” asked Carrier.  “We have a resolution or a bylaw that has been put together.  Between now and March 31st we’re anticipating getting the word that we will be getting additional funding for First Street totalling two million nine hundred and five thousand and change" replied Houghton. 

Mayor Carrier congratulated Houghton on his professional and successful relationship that is in place with the Ministry of Transportation.  “I must say that the relationship that you and your staff have with senior MTO staff have served Collingwood quite well so thank you very much” Carrier said.

Work To Begin In April On Hurontario Street - Downtown

Houghton told council that a lot of people are asking about the status of the downtown Collingwood revitalization project.  “We’re hoping to start the first block and the third block in the first week of April.  We think to complete the centre block we need to have a little bit better weather.  We think we’ll be able to open this portion of downtown Collingwood by July 1st.  The second phase of downtown Collingwood is Pine Street from First to Third streets, and St. Marie Street from First to Third, and as well Hurontario Street from Fourth to Fifth Street on the west side only. 

New Road Upgrade Projects Are In The Works

The Highway 26 east realignment project is now moving forward.  “Highway 26 east realignment consists of securing new property for highway 26, and negotiations are underway” Houghton told council.  He said negotiations are ongoing and it isn’t known at this time when construction will begin. 

Hume Street widening is another project that has yet to begin.  Houghton said that an environment assessment is underway for the widening of Hume Street from the Pretty River Parkway to Hurontario Street.  The assessment process will be completed by the end of 2010 with a proposed beginning of construction date yet to be determined.  Houghton told council that it is his hope that the town will secure government funding for the Hume Street project.

Fourth and Fifth Street bridge replacement projects are also in the works.  Engineering request for proposals will be called for in May with construction on the bridges to begin in 2011. 

The second phase of the High Street widening project is currently in design phase.  Houghton said a construction date has yet to be determined.
 
The design work is being completed on the widening project for Hurontario Street south from Collins to Campbell Street.  Engineering on this project will be completed by the end of 2010.  Houghton said a construction date has yet to be determined but he anticipates this project to be discussed as a part of the 2011 budget process.  Houghton said this project has been identified as a need by CAO Kim Wingrove because of what he referred to as “issues” at the intersection.

Waste Water Treatment Plant Expansion

Houghton said the town about 99 percent complete in preparing an environmental assessment prior to moving forward with the Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion.  He said they are waiting to hear back from the Ministry of the Environment and he hopes the assessment will be complete by late summer.  A start date for construction has not been set at this time.

Public Works has several construction projects to complete.  The first project is resurfacing Raglan Street from Hume Street.  Tenders will be called for in May. Construction start-up is estimated to be August to September.  Construction of Ron Emo Drive is currently underway.  Sanitary sewers and water have been installed and Houghton anticipates the asphalt will be down by June.

Houghton said that the Patterson Street Pump Station – Standby Tower project is ready to move forward.  “This is to ensure that when we have power outages we don’t have issues in the Catherine Street area.  The project consists of the installation of a standby generator.  The drawings are complete and all we are waiting for now is approval from the Ministry of the Environment for noise on that generator, and we estimate the tender will be mid to end of May with construction beginning in July.”

Poplar Sideroad Improvements

Houghton said that work will begin this year on upgrading the Poplar Sideroad. “As council knows we were given 10 million dollars for area road improvements which included 27 and 28 in Clearview and Poplar Sideroad and the 10th Concession.  In May we’ll be calling for tenders on the Clearview 27-28 project and as well from Hurontario Street to the west on Poplar and then on the 10th concession from Poplar to Sixth.  We will be doing utility relocates on the western portion from May to September.  Phase one, which on our portion will be under construction from July to December and phase two will be next year from May through to November 2011” Houghton said.