Media Release: Phase 2 of King Street Rejuvenation Project to begin March 30
March 26, 2020 – With the early arrival of spring weather, The Town of Midland is pleased to announce that Phase 2 of the King Street Rejuvenation Project will begin on Monday, March 30, 2020. Continuing where Phase 1 left off in 2019, Phase 2 will see continued work along King Street to replace underground infrastructure, sidewalks, trees and lighting.
"We understand many downtown businesses are impacted by COVID-19," said Mayor Stewart Strathearn “Moving forward with this project now, as planned, we expect to complete the project this year avoiding any carryover and added disruption in 2021."
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Arnott Construction Ltd., the contractor on the project, is taking all reasonable precautions necessary in order to follow the most up to date industry best practices in order to fight the spread of the virus. Changes have been made to Health & Safety procedures and protocols, as well contingency plans have been put into place. The situation will continue to be monitored and changes will be implemented where necessary.
“In discussions with both Arnott Construction Ltd. and Tatham Engineering, a plan was developed permitting Phase 2 to continue as scheduled, with extra precautions in place given these ever-changing times," said Andy Campbell, Executive Director of Environment & Infrastructure for the Town of Midland. “We encourage the community to continue to support all of the downtown businesses during construction once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted."
Phase 2 will be done in one-block increments, with the first block of work being done from Bayshore Drive to Dominion Avenue. The project will continue south, with Elizabeth Street to Yonge Street being the final block. A work schedule and traffic control plan have been posted on Engaging Midland, and more updates will be provided throughout Phase 2. Visit EngagingMidland.ca/King-Street-Rejuvenation for more details.
For more information on the state of COVID-19 in our area, please contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or visit their website at simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Update - Phase 2 Pre-Construction Open House
The Town of Midland is holding a King Street Rejuvenation - Phase 2 Pre-Construction Open House.
When: Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre - Community Hall
*This Open House is drop-in style. There will be no formal presentation.*
The purpose of this Open House is to:
- Coordinate the upcoming Phase 2 of the rejuvenation project with businesses and downtown residents;
- Answer questions and explain more about Phase 2, with Town Staff, Tatham Engineering Staff and Arnott Construction Staff available; and
- Provide construction drawings for the upcoming work, construction sequencing plans, and Traffic Control plans.
It is recommended that all King Street area businesses attend!
For more information on the King Street Rejuvenation Project please visit our
Engaging Midland engagement website.
2019 News & Updates
Update - Phase 1 Construction Complete - Dec. 2019
The intersection of Bayshore Drive and King Street is now open, after the traffic lights were given a green light by inspectors today! With that, the Phase 1 Construction of the King Street Rejuvenation is now complete!
Phase 2 of the rejuvenation will begin in Spring 2020. Stay tuned for updates as spring gets closer
Phase 1 Construction - Fall 2019
Arnott Construction will begin preparing the site on September 9th and construction will begin on September 16th. King Street will be closed from north of Bayshore Drive to Bay Street. Sections of Bay Street, both east and west of King Street, will also be closed. A detailed map is provided below. Pedestrian access will be maintained to the store fronts during construction. There may be moments where access to store fronts will be limited due to the nature of the construction, however these times will communicated before hand. Construction is anticipated to be completed by mid-November.
Road Closure Map
Click here for a larger version.
Transit Detour
During the King Street reconstruction work beginning on Monday, September 16, transit buses will be rerouted to avoid the road closures along Bayshore Drive/Bay Street/King Street. Please refer to the map below for the detour route that will be in effect.
Click here for a larger version.
Project Background
The Town has been planning the revitalization of King Street from Bayshore Drive to Yonge Street for a number of years. Tatham Engineering was retained to complete the detailed designed work required for this project which resulted in a complete reconstruction of King St.
The reconstruction includes but isn't limited to:
The Town of Midland has a rich history and King Street being the focal point for the town plays a large role in this. This rejuvenation project will help maintain this history as well update the downtown to today's standards and solidify Midland as a leader in North Simcoe and a top tourist destination.
