Kitchener businesses worry Victoria Street closure will drive away customers

Work has finally started along Victoria Street in Kitchener. CTV’s Karis Mapp takes a closer look at the lengthy construction project.

Work has begun to give a busy Kitchener street a big makeover.

Drivers will benefit down the line, but right now they’ll have to deal with traffic delays and detours on Victoria Street.

Construction crews got to work on Wednesday on the first phase of the $12 million project.

“The work is to be completed over a series of stages,” said Eric Sanderson, a senior engineer with the Region of Waterloo. “Primary intent is to main traffic along Fischer-Hallman Road and Westmount Road throughout each stage of the construction and scheduling.”

Victoria Road is currently off limits west of Fischer-Hallman Road.

“The stretch will be closed off for the next four weeks,” Sanderson said. “Then we’ll alternate on the other side of the intersection. So, the east lanes of the intersection will be closed thereafter.”

The overall goal of the two-year project, he added, is improved safety and traffic flow.

“Rehabilitation of the roadway, upgrades to active transportation facilities in the area, providing connectivity to existing network facilities, underground storm sewer and infrastructure improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new street lighting.”

While the work is underway, pedestrians will be able to access the sidewalks.

Drivers, on the other hand, will have to find another route around the closure.

“There is a detour for through traffic along Highland Road,” suggested Sanderson. “Updated information will be provided on the region’s website as the work proceeds.”

Businesses along Westmount Road, like Vicmount Pharmacy, are bracing for the financial impact of construction.

“People are concerned because medicine is very important,” said pharmacy technician Ameena Hassan. “Secondly, we have urgent care close to us, and this is where most of our business comes from.”

Vicmount Pharmacy said they will be offering free prescription deliveries for their regular customers.

Local businesses still remember when renovations were done on their parking lot.

“We had a lot of issues at that time,” Hassan admitted.

“It went on for about two years and we lost a significant amount of business,” said Kate Michelin, a server at Grama’s Kitchen. “We’ve been able to bring back all the business that were deterred from those things.”

She was nervous that customers might opt for a more convenient location to avoid the road work and detour.

“Once people have trouble getting into your restaurant, they’re not going to struggle with the traffic and construction. They’ll just go somewhere else. It does, definitely, hurt our business,” explained Michelin. “[I’m] scared, honestly. I mean, it’s my livelihood. It’s how I support myself and my kid.”

The region insists the temporary inconvenience will ensure a safer future for everyone.

“Both intersections ranked high in terms of collision,” Sanderson said. “It’s time to improve safety at the intersections. For not only pedestrians, [but] cyclists, motorists and access to transit.”

The region said temporary streetlights will be added to help manage traffic in the area.

For live updates on the Victoria Street construction, the region said residents can text the code VCTA to 57555.