March 21, 2025
The concrete box culvert is now in place, marking a major project milestone.
Sheet pile removal is expected to begin on March 24 and take approximately two weeks. The process will generate noise and vibrations, but the contractor will take steps to minimize disruptions. The noise is not expected to be the same as the sheet pile installations, as there is no pounding involved.
The sheet piles were necessary for dewatering and structural stability during excavation. By removing sheet piles, the contractor will start to restore site conditions while maintaining the integrity of the completed work.
Dewatering wells and their treatment system will also be removed in the coming weeks as major underground work nears completion.
February 5, 2025
Simcoe Street will be closed to all traffic for nine weeks, from Monday, February 10, until approximately April 11. This full road closure is necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians, drivers, and construction workers during major culvert installation and crane work. There will be no access on Simcoe Street from the Lakeshore Mews west entrance to Bayfield Street. Local traffic will be permitted from Dunlop Street to the Lakeshore Mews west entrance.
Detours will be in place during the road closure:
- Eastbound detour: Simcoe Street – Bayfield Street – Dunlop Street – Simcoe Street
- Westbound detour: Dunlop Street – Toronto Street – Simcoe Street
January 23, 2025
Approximately 35 metres of concrete culverts now in place. Forms for a concrete headwall outlet have been completed and are ready for concrete pour.
Over the next few weeks, the contractor will begin backfilling the newly installed culverts, continue with helical pile installations, and continue with forming and pouring the box culvert foundations.
Excavation for the custom hexagon-shaped maintenance hole is scheduled to begin at the end of January. This will be followed by foundation forming and concrete pouring to complete this critical component.
December 16, 2024
To facilitate construction activities around the site, the contractor will implement temporary traffic pattern changes. The following changes are expected to be in place January 6–10, 2025:
- Eastbound Simcoe Street will be closed from Bayfield Street to the west entrance at Lakeshore Mews/Heritage Park Parking Lot.
- Left turns from Bayfield Street onto Simcoe Street will not be permitted.
- Traffic will be detoured north on Bayfield Street; please follow the posted detour signs.
Westbound through traffic on Simcoe Street will remain open. Your cooperation and understanding during this period are greatly appreciated.
December 10, 2024
The City's Water Operations Department is closing Simcoe Street between Bayfield & Dunlop E on December 10, 2024, tentatively from 9am to 3:30pm. The closure is needed to facilitate a watermain flushing for transmission watermain, due to the newly installed section of watermain for the project.
December 6, 2024
Concrete formwork is ongoing at the construction site as part of the foundation installation for the concrete box culverts. Concrete pouring is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11.
Please be aware of increased traffic around the construction entrance during this period. Traffic control measures will be implemented in accordance with the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7 to ensure safety and efficiency.
Residents and commuters are asked to exercise caution and follow all posted signs and instructions when near the site.
November 18, 2024
To facilitate ongoing work along Simcoe Street, a temporary lane shift will be implemented. The lane shift is expected to start November 25, 2024, and will be in place for one week. This adjustment is carefully planned to maintain traffic flow in both directions while enabling the contractor to complete the necessary work efficiently.
Both the City and the contractor remain committed to minimizing impacts on the roadway. To date, work has been successfully completed without the need for lane closures or one-way traffic plans.
November 13, 2024
The sheet pile installations for the entire construction site have been completed. Efforts are now focused on dewatering the area and lowering the groundwater table to prepare for the installation of concrete box culverts.
The contractor is also reviewing the plans to implement a one-way traffic configuration on Simcoe Street. The City and the contractor are working closely to minimize impacts on the community and traffic flow. Further details and updates will be provided shortly, as they become available.
October 9, 2024
The sheet pile installations on the Marina side are now complete. Pile driving is currently underway at Heritage Park and is expected to continue for approximately two more weeks, weather permitting. Learn more about the sheet pile installation.
The implementation of the one-way configuration on Simcoe Street is now scheduled for early November. This implementation is required for watermain work. Once in place, traffic will be restricted to eastbound only from Bayfield to Mulcaster, Monday–Friday. Both directions will be open on weekends. These traffic restrictions are expected to be in effect until March 2025.
September 23, 2024
Sheet pile installation is currently underway as part of the critical stormwater outlet construction. The installation process generates significant noise due to the nature of the equipment and materials involved. The contractor is regularly shutting down the several compressors on site to reduce noise. The sheet pile installation is expected to take approximately one month to complete. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding during this period as we work to ensure the project is completed safely and efficiently.
The sheet pile installation is necessary for dewatering, which ensures a dry and safe working environment. The sheet piles are essential to maintaining proper conditions for the stormwater infrastructure construction, as they provide structural support and prevent soil movement. This stabilization secures the excavation areas, minimizing the risk of collapse or erosion, especially in areas with loose or saturated soils. Sheet piles also help control groundwater inflow and assist in dewatering lake water to provide a dry working area for proper concrete box culvert installations. This controlled environment reduces the potential for flooding or water intrusion into the worksite, ensuring concrete placements are executed in optimal conditions and protect workers.
The one-way configuration on Simcoe Street is now expected to be implemented the week of October 7. Traffic on Simcoe will only be able to travel eastbound from Bayfield Street to Mulcaster Street, Monday–Friday. The road will be open in both directions on the weekends. These restrictions are expected to be in place until March 2025.
September 6, 2024
Arnott has secured the construction site and placed the appropriate detour routes for the pedestrians and active transportation to navigate around the construction site. The contractor has installed all sediment and erosion protection measures and is starting to remove the existing features to prepare for the major construction.
The contractor will implement a one-way configuration on Simcoe Street, which they expect will begin on September 16. Traffic on Simcoe will only be able to travel eastbound from Bayfield Street to Mulcaster Street, Monday–Friday. The road will be open in both directions on the weekends. These restrictions are expected to be in place until March 2025.
August 16, 2024
Construction is anticipated to start on August 19. Some pedestrian trails and walkways in the area will be closed at times, but detours will be provided and signage will be in place. Beginning August 26, traffic on Simcoe Street will only be able to travel eastbound from Bayfield Street to Mulcaster Street, Monday–Friday. The road will be open in both directions on the weekends. These restrictions are expected to be in place until March 2025.
During construction, pedestrians and drivers are reminded to follow signage to detour safely through the area.
July 26, 2024
The contract has been awarded to Arnott Construction Limited. The work is anticipated to start on August 19 and extend into the winter months. Final restorations including topsoil, sod and surface asphalt, are expected to be completed by June 2025.
The construction zone will be fenced off and security will be provided on site when the contractor is not on site. There will be generators used on a 24-hour basis to facilitate the active dewatering needed to construct the new trunk storm culvert.
June 27, 2024
Construction is expected to start in late July or early August 2024. The pre-qualified contractors have requested an extension to the bidding deadline because of the complexity of the work, to ensure all aspects of the project are included.
May 16, 2024
The prequalification process for the general contractor has been completed. The final design is complete and the City has received all final drawings, documents and permits. The Project will be out to bids and tenders and construction is anticipated to start the end of June / early July.
Alectra is on Simcoe Street doing the utility relocations necessary for the upcoming construction project. There will be lane shifts as they work in the boulevard to complete their work. It is anticipated that they will be out on Simcoe Street from Bayfield to Merridian Square for two to three weeks.
March 5, 2024
- Aquafor Beech has submitted all necessary permit applications, and we are awaiting approvals before tendering the upcoming project.
- Construction is anticipated to start May 2024 and take the majority of the year to complete.
- The project has accounted for the pedestrian traffic and each sequence of construction has been carefully thought of to provide temporary trails / walkways to navigate around the construction zone.
- The pre-qualification for the general contractor is anticipated to be out to bids and tenders this week.
December 7, 2023
Kehoe has successfully completed the dredging works in the Bayfield Basin and at the boat launch two weeks ahead of schedule. They will be cleaning up and leaving the site by Friday, December 8, 2023. The Spirit Catcher Parking Lot (west of the Bayfield Basin, adjacent to the Sea Cadets building) will be reopened at that time. The majority of the docks that were removed to complete this work will be reinstalled the week of December 11. Four of the docks will be reinstalled after the culvert works are completed, which is estimated to be December 2024.
November 20, 2023
The contractor is on site today to begin the Bayfield Basin dredging work, which is expected to be complete by December 22, 2023. The existing boat slips within the Bayfield Basin will be temporarily removed. The Spirit Catcher Parking Lot (west of the Bayfield Basin, adjacent to the Sea Cadets building) will be temporarily closed November 20–December 22 to allow the contractor to use this space for their construction activities.
November 2, 2023
The Bayfield Basin dredging tender was awarded to Kehoe Marine Construction Ltd and they anticipate starting the dredging work on November 20. The existing boat slips within the Bayfield Basin will be temporarily removed to complete the dredging works. The Spirit Catcher Parking Lot (west of the Bayfield Basin, adjacent to the Sea Cadets building) will be temporarily closed to allow the contractor to use this space for their construction activities.
The geotechnical works are completed and Aquafor Beech is progressing with the detailed design of the storm sewer works anticipated to start construction in May 2024.
October 2, 2023
The Bayfield Basin dredging tender has been issued and we anticipate the dredging works to start in November, 2023.
August 3, 2023
The utility relocation design is underway. The geotechnical field investigations are completed and awaiting draft reports. The 60% design submission continues to be developed. The geotechnical investigations for the Bayfield Basin are completed and the dredging tender is under development.
June 6, 2023
The utility relocation design is underway. The geotechnical field studies are underway. The 60% design submission continues to be developed.
Council approved the additional funding to complete dredging within the Bayfield Basin needed to install these works. The geotechnical subconsultant for the dredging works has been awarded to Envision and is underway. The dredging tender is under development.
May 1, 2023
The utility relocation design is underway. The geotechnical works have been awarded to WSP and are underway. The 60% design submission continues to be developed.
March 2023
The utility relocation design is underway. The 60% design submission continues to be underway.
February 2023
The City has provided the comments to the 30% design submission to Aquafor Beech. The utility relocation design has been initiated. The 60% design submission is underway.
December 2022
In November, the 30% submission was delivered to the City to review and the specifications for the geotechnical subconsultant were provided to the City. Archaeological phase 1 and 2 continued.
October 2022
30% submission is under development.
August 2022
- 30% Detailed Design package under development.
- Field studies are underway.
June 2022
- 30% Detailed Design package under development.
- Field studies are underway.
May 2022
The City has awarded the Engineering Design of the Sophia Creek Owen Tributary Storm Outlet from Memorial Square to Aquafor Beech Limited. The background information is currently being reviewed and the consultant is proceeding with the 30% preliminary design.
