Barrie’s upgrade and realignment of Lakeshore Drive – a project the city likes to call “your new Lakeshore” – is a multi-phased project. Projects are generally started in one year and run over into the next.
Phase 1: Kidd’s Creek culvert: $5.14 million. Started in 2005 and completed the next year, this project required removal of contaminated soil. The project fell behind, because city staff underestimated the amount of soil that needed to be removed in the Toronto and Simcoe streets area. The work allowed the next phase – the opening up of Kidd’s Creek from Simcoe Street to Kempenfelt Bay, to occur.
Phase 2: Kidd’s Creek channel improvements: $895,000. This project involved the naturalization of the Kidd’s Creek channel to Kempenfelt Bay. Completed last year, the project garnered Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority honours for improving water quality and expanding fish habitat.
Phase 3: Lakeshore/Toronto connection: $2.86 million. Begun two years ago and completed in 2007, this project saw the end of Lakeshore Drive as it had been known for years and then tied into Toronto Street.
Phase 4: Simcoe Street widening, Mary to Bayfield streets: $2.8 million. The cause of downtown traffic backlog last year, this project has just wrapped up, with the new Simcoe Street being five lanes wide. The project fell behind because of the amount of dewatering that had to occur was underestimated.
Phase 5: Simcoe Street widening: Bayfield to Mulcaster streets: preliminary work is to start next week. Projected cost: $3 million
Phase 6a: Tiffin/Bradford/Essa/Lakeshore connection: $10-million estimated cost, no start date yet. The Re/Max building has been demolished to make way for the new intersection, which will encourage drivers to use Bradford Street to access downtown, rather than Lakeshore Drive.
Phase 6b) Lakeshore sanitary sewer replacement: This project is to take two years, and cost a total of $23 million.
Today's Weather 
Partly cloudy and 13°C
Partly cloudy and 13°C
