Queen Street West reconstruction begins in Cambridge

A main point of entry into Hespeler will be closed for the next five months. CTV’s Spencer Turcotte takes a closer look at the project.

A major reconstruction project on Queen Street West in Cambridge is underway, closing a key gateway into the Hespeler neighbourhood for the next five months.

The closure, which began Monday, is part of the City of Cambridge’s Queen Street West reconstruction project. Crews will replace aging watermains, sanitary and storm sewers while also rebuilding sections of the road, sidewalks, curbs and gutters.

Sections of Queen Street West will remain closed through the construction, with the project expected to wrap up in December.

City officials said drivers should follow the posted detour routes.

“Queen Street is obviously going to be closed,” said Leah Walter, the City of Cambridge’s director of engineering. “Our posted detour would be taking Goebel Avenue and Holiday Inn Drive, Franklin, Adams Street. Those are the main routes that folks should utilize during the closure.”

The reconstruction project is also coming in below its original budget.

Walter said the project was initially estimated to cost $3.2 million, but the successful construction bid reduced the cost to about $2.3 million. Of that, roughly $1.5 million will be covered through provincial funding.

For businesses along the construction zone, however, the biggest concern is maintaining customer traffic.

Kristy Morgan, owner of the Hespeler consignment store Next Time Around, said customers and vendors began expressing concerns as soon as the closure was announced.

“We had customers and our vendors going, ‘What’s going to happen?’” Morgan said.

While the store remains open throughout the project, Morgan worries some shoppers will assume it is too difficult to access.

“I think my biggest fear is people will just not even try to get here,” she said. “They may just think it’s not worth the headache.”

City staff said access to businesses will be maintained throughout construction.

“We maintain access for patrons of each business to go in and out and obviously employees,” Walter said.

Residents and businesses near the project should also expect occasional temporary water interruptions, with advance notice provided before any planned shutdowns. Any driveways affected by construction will be repaired by the contractor, according to the city.

Garbage and recycling collection will also continue during the project, with construction crews relocating bins to accessible pickup locations and returning them afterward.

Although the work will be completed in phases, Morgan said she hopes the project remains on schedule, particularly as the holiday shopping season approaches.

“Six months is a very long time to be closed and that gets us into our Christmas season, which for most retail, is the busiest time of year,” she said.