Major infrastructure project in Guelph digging into businesses’ bottom lines

Road closures and construction are taking a toll on downtown businesses. CTV’s Karis Mapp finds out how.

Summer is off to a slow start in downtown Guelph.

A major reconstruction project is underway in the downtown core to upgrade roads, sewers and watermains, as well as improving sidewalks and cycling lanes.

Construction started at the end of March, but now that the weather is heating up, some business owners worry they are going to miss out on crucial revenue.

“Definitely in the summer we would expect it to be a little busier,” Autumn Petti, supervisor of McCabe’s Irish Pub & Grill, said. “With the construction, [it’s] definitely a lot quieter.”

McCabe’s had hoped a boost from the FIFA World Cup would help buoy their bottom line.

“Not as big of a turnout. If it’s not the Canada games [it is] kind of hit or miss for the other ones,” Petti explained.

Work along Wyndham Street has also changed how the pub operates in the summer. Typically they’d have the windows open to welcome a seasonal breeze. However, between the noise and the dust, that hasn’t been an option this year.

Why now?

Although the work has been disruptive, city representatives said it is necessary.

“Those pipes are quite old,” Kyle Gibson, Guelph’s manager of technical services, said. “Some of them being over 100 years old and needing upgrading. They’re also being upsized to plan for growth in the future of our downtown.”

The city also wanted to complete the work before Guelph’s bicentennial celebrations. The city will also host the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup in 2027.

Staying up to date

As of Monday, Wyndham Street remained closed from Wellington Street East to Quebec Street and Douglas Street. Intersections at Macdonnell Street, Farquhar Street and within St. George’s Square are still open to traffic.

During construction, the Macdonnell Street parking lot is offering free two-hour parking. However, drivers must register their vehicle using the HONK app to claim the offer.

The city also has a dedicated website for construction updates and is hosting regular “construction cafes” every month to give people a chance to ask questions about the project.