While summer may have drifted away, the City of Barrie remains enveloped in a turbulent period of construction, evident in the prolonged disruption coursing through a bustling crossroad. As Monday dawned, the traffic-ridden intersection of Cedar Pointe Drive and Edgehill Drive fell into silence and will remain off-limits to vehicles until the cusp of winter in mid-December.
Without hesitation, the City clarified, “No access will be entertained on Edgehill Drive.” The sudden cessation took countless motorists by surprise with a surge of traffic desperately trying to bypass the area. Unruffled motorists expressed their frustration, one questioning, “I was not privy to this information. What is the means of escape from here when the exit is barricaded?” Another hopelessly ensnared in a traffic queue remarked, “It would have been courteous to be forewarned.”
Despite the heap of challenges, businesses stationed along Cedar Pointe Drive cling to resilience. They will continue to operate with the assistance of access via Dunlop Street throughout the construction phase. However, the roadworks have left an indelible mark on their profits, as elucidated by Pita Land owner Junaid Danish, “Our sales have plummeted by almost half; it’s a drastic blow. We’re a family enterprise, and it’s proving to be disastrous.”
While grappling with the current disruption, an unwelcome sense of déjà vu rears its head as only last week the prolonged disruption of Cedar Pointe Drive and Dunlop Street intersection was finally resolved after months of delays. The City stated that the project contractor had now hunched down to work relentlessly until November 1 to ensure the timely completion of the sanitary installation and road restoration.
The City emphasized, “This project is instrumental in paving the path for the forthcoming Dunlop Street bridge replacement project by the Ministry of Transportation, which is presently in the design and environmental review stage.” As preparations for the bridge replacement project kick into high gear next year, it is forecasted to span over an approximate four years before completion.
