'We're open for business': St. Thomas trying to stay positive during massive construction on Talbot Street
Construction is underway to fix the aging infrastructure on Talbot Street in St. Thomas, Ont.
“We've got the detours setup, we have our construction fencing, we have the road pulverized, and we actually started installing sanitary sewers two days ago,” says Patrick Anckaert, the city’s manager of Capital Works.
A 500-metre stretch from Mary Street to Ross Street will be completed in two phases. The first will be from Mary Street to City Hall and will finish in July. The second will be from City Hall to Ross Street and will begin in July and end in October.
“The sanitary sewer was 120 years old and bricks,” says Anckaert.
“It’s definitely reached the end of its lifecycle and the water main as well had reached the end of its lifecycle. With this investment, we want to continue providing service to downtown and do that without interruption.”
The only interruption is to through traffic and to businesses located in the construction area.
A downtown stretch of Talbot Street is under construction in two phases for the next six months in St. Thomas, Ont. on Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023. (Jim Knight/CTV News London)
“Although it is painful to do this right now, the solution is going to be much better and it's going to stop someone from pulling up and ending up in a sinkhole,” says Grayden Laing, owner of Laing Studios on Talbot St. and vice-chair of the Downtown Development Board (DDB).
His studio is located right in the middle of the construction zone.
“It’s definitely a situation of short term pain, for long term gain,” says Laing.
Many downtown businesses have had a rough five years. From the first phase of construction at the west end of Talbot St. in 2018, to pandemic shutdowns, dealing with clients of the homeless drop-in centre and now this work.
“The sewer and water has to be done, and we survived all of those other things, and we’ll get through this,” says Patti Mugford of Mugford Shoes and Clothing on Talbot St.
Mugford’s has been in the core for 58 years, but have temporarily moved across the city to Elgin Centre to ensure they capitalize on at their peak season.
“Unfortunately we don't have an accessible backdoor for our customers to come into which is the biggie,” says Mugford, who adds they’ll be returning downtown full-time in a few months.
“We are definitely a front door merchant and a parking in front of the store is number one for us in the downtown.”
Mugford’s Shoes and Clothing has temporarily set up shop at the Elgin Centre on Wellington St. during the construction in front of their downtown location in St. Thomas, Ont. on Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023. (Jim Knight/CTV News London)
While parking is unavailable on Talbot St., Anckaert stresses that there is plenty of parking on the north and south sides of the main street.
“We're really lucky that we have two parallel streets to downtown one on the North (Curtis St.) and one on the south (Center St.) and lots of great parking,” says Anckaert.
“I would say, come on down and check out all those great parking opportunities to support our downtown. You can still use the front entrance there as there is a fence in between you and construction.”
Laing says the DDB is using this timeframe as an opportunity to promote all the businesses affected. He says if they tag the DDB in any posts on social media, they will share them to ensure residents know they can still shop or dine at their establishment.
“At the end of the day, St. Thomas is going to look better, my studio front is going to look better, and I'm going to have more clients coming in here and seeing a more professional environment,” says Laing.
“I see nothing but good coming out of that.”
As with previous construction in the west end of the city, this $6.6 million project will include trees, planters, benches and new streetlights.
The details on the entire project can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.