Stores to be open during Big Dig, communication to increase in Goderich

BY BOB MONTGOMERY

The Mayor of Goderich says construction on The Square in Goderich is right on schedule.

 

Trevor Bazinet says there’s no question this is a major project and it’s going to take two years to replace all of the infrastructure under the road. But Bazinet points out that the infrastructure is more than 100 years old and the work probably should have been done years ago. But it wasn’t and he says they’ve dodged a bullet. They started on May 12 and he says things are going very well.

 

Bazinet says that over the last year and a half they’ve held many public meetings to get input from residents and asked them about some of their concerns. Furthermore, he also points out a project like this does present council with an opportunity to make some changes. He says many of the changes they’ll be making will be making the downtown accessible to everyone. He concedes the weather could be a factor at some point, but he was on the site on Tuesday and so far they’re right on schedule and exactly where they wanted to be.

 

Bazinet says that one of the concerns they want to address is regarding the misinformation about the events that traditionally take place on The Square. He says a couple of events have been moved to Lions Harbour Park, but the majority of events will proceed as they normally would around The Square throughout the summer, including the Saturday Farmers’ Market, the BIA Concert Series every Thursday night and the Sunday Market every weekend. 

 

Bazinet says they’re hoping to see a lot of foot traffic in the downtown because all of the stores on The Square will be open throughout the summer; no one is closing. Bazinet adds, even though the main entrances of some of the stores will be closed during some of the construction, there will be an accessible pathway that will allow people to get into all of the stores.

 

Bazinet says up-to-date information on the project and how it’s proceeding can be found on the town’s website at goderich.ca and there the town provides a weekly update. They have also hired a communications person who will be on the site on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8-11:30 a.m. to provide more information. Bazinet says communication to both the store owners and to town residents is critical and they’re working hard to make sure everyone has the information they need.

 

Bazinet says one thing he wasn’t prepared for is the number of motorists now driving in both directions around The Square. He says he’s never seen so many people driving the wrong way around The Square and that’s surprised him because there’s signage at every intersection indicating the proper direction for motorists and that hasn’t changed. They want to make sure that tourists visiting The Square aren’t being led to believe it’s a two-way street.