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Kitchener-Waterloo

King Street to be closed in uptown Waterloo more than twice as long as planned

The company behind Waterloo Region’s light-rail transit line says King Street in uptown Waterloo will be closed more than twice as long as originally announced because the builder plans to do “more in a longer period of time.”

Businesses were told last year that the area would be closed for just four months

CBC News ·
Construction for the future ION LRT on Caroline Street in Uptown Waterloo. Fisken recommends those not destined for uptown use Weber Street as a detour, while those looking to access uptown can use Caroline, Regina or Park streets. (ION Facebook page)

GrandLinq, the construction consortium building the Ion light rail transit line between Kitchener and Waterloo, says that King Street will be closed in uptown Waterloo more than twice as long as originally announced because the group plans to do "more in a longer period of time."

"We're doing what we can," GrandLinq communications director Avril Fisken told Craig Norris, the host of CBC Radio's The Morning Edition.

Beginning Monday, King Street between Erb and William Streets will be shut down and fenced off. The nine-month closure means that businesses along King Street, which were told last year that the area would be closed for just four months, will face construction for five months more than first expected.

Fisken said that's because instead of focusing only on wet utility work, crews will now also upgrade and relocate underground services, reconstruct the road, initiate the LRT track and put in stop areas.

"Through the course of the year we've had some real successes, for example at Charles and Benton where we've gone in, we've closed the area and we've got all the work done," said Fisken.

'More in a longer period of time'

"That's the plan for uptown now. The work has changed in the area. We're doing more in a longer period of time," said Fisken.

That change has some businesses in the area concerned that customers might not realize they're open - or will avoid the area completely.

Grandlinq developed this map to show how people can access uptown Waterloo during the closures, where you can cross the street and where you can park. (Submitted by Grandlinq)

"Obviously getting the message out that business is open is a concern, making sure that customers can still get to them," Fisken said. GrandLinq is working with retailers in the area to ensure shoppers know they are indeed operating and can access them.

Pedestrians will be able to access the businesses as usual and parking lots will also remain accessible. And since King Street is accessible through back streets, businesses in the area shouldn't see a negative impact, she said.

For commuters, Fisken said those not who aren't headed for uptown should use Weber Street as a detour, while those looking to access uptown can use Caroline, Regina or Park streets.

Asked what accounts for the discrepancy in the timeline, Fisken said it's a balancing act.

"Do we give people an extremely long projection, trying to take into consideration everything we might find when we open up a road, or do we give a reasonable expectation and then re-communicate when we find something that's changed?" she said.

For now, businesses can expect work in the area to be complete by Christmas – that is, unless plans change again.

And as for when residents can expect the LRT to be up and running, Fisken says that will happen sometime in 2017.

"I don't have an exact month," she said. 

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