Printed by the Review
Town’s Queen Street getting $4M upgrade
Posted By RAY SPITERI
Queen Street will soon undergo a queen-size reconstruction.
Council approved a $4-million restoration of the roadway along its entire 700-metre length from Central Avenue to the Niagara Parkway Monday night.
Construction is scheduled to begin Feb. 18 and finish by the end of September.
The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority will contribute $2.4 million to the project in recognition of the impact its recent reconstruction of the new Canadian plaza had on the neighbouring community.
The town will pay about $1.6 million for underground services in the project area, such as replacing 80- to 90-year-old sanitary sewers, storm sewers and water mains.
The PBA’s commitment will pay for all above-ground improvements including extensive landscaping, burying overhead hydro lines, creating wider sidewalks, a new neighbourhood parkette at the foot of the Douglas Street hill, decorative street lighting and a roundabout at the intersection of Goderich and Queen streets.
“We said to the residents that when we do our Canadian plaza, we will make sure that we take care of the perimeter of the plaza and we will make improvements outside of our property for their benefit and that’s what we’re doing,” said PBA general manager Ron Rienas.
“It’s really designed to enhance the entranceway to the Niagara Parkway from people coming off of the plaza. The Chinese restaurants in the area, the other businesses down there, the way down there will now be a much more pleasant experience than what it is today.” The PBA has already worked with the town on previous projects, such as Veterans Way and the Riverwalk. The $2.4 million also fulfils the PBA’s commitment to the town to implement its International Gateway Urban Design Strategy, said Rienas.
Coun. Richard Shular, who represents the area as ward councillor, said the Queen Street reconstruction has been a “long and arduous process,” going all the way back to 2001.
Article ID# 887980
Clarification
Incorrect information was provided to The Review for an article that appeared Tuesday. A paragraph incorrectly stated a new neighbourhood parkette will be constructed at the foot of the Douglas Street hill. The new parkette will in fact be built at the bottom of the hill on Goderich Street.
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What will this mean for the property values of the houses on Queen Street?
Comment by Tammy — February 11, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
I guess this will mean that Queen street will be ‘under construction’, as it were, for the entire spring/summer 2008? I am thinking of opening up a business on Queen street, but am now hesitant since such revamping will likely be a setback in terms of volume of tourists visiting from the busier areas of Clifton Hill & casinos, etc. – Just wondering….
Comment by Rick Jacksties — February 26, 2008 @ 2:56 am