Construction is nothing new to drivers travelling Highway 400 through Barrie in the summer, but what’s happening in the area of Dunlop Street is not just your average fixer-upper.
It's expected to significantly change the landscape of that part of the city.
Traffic congestion in the Highway 400/Dunlop Street area is a problem year-round, and as Barrie plans to see a huge population growth over the next 20 years, it would only get worse without some adjustments, officials say.
The Ministry of Transportation started looking into the redevelopment of the area in 2004 and had almost completed its study in 2017 when the provincial government came out with potential growth numbers which would drastically affect Barrie.
Brett Gratrix, the city's infrastructure and planning engineer, told BarrieToday that the original plans in 2004 were to widen the Dunlop Street highway crossing to four lanes from the current two, but since there are new growth targets up to 2041, it is now being looked at making it six lanes with three in each direction.
In relation to how Dunlop Street interconnects with Highway 400, where the ramps are sometimes already backed up into live lanes in the morning and evening rush, it's extremely important that they get it right and work together.
“Given how important this crossing structure is, we’re working together with the MTO to see what we need to add to this to accommodate growth in 2041,” said Gratrix. “So, we’re taking the lead to see if we need to add additional lanes, going from their proposed four to potentially six.”
The replacement of three overpass structures on Highway 400 at Dunlop Street, Anne Street and Sunnidale Road also includes the reconstruction of the Dunlop Street and Highway 400 interchange, Highway 400 pavement resurfacing from Dunlop Street to north of St. Vincent Street, Bayfield Street ramp resurfacing, Highway 400 median barrier replacement and drainage improvements within the resurfacing limits.
The massive projects also includes design of noise walls in the vicinity of Dunlop, Anne and Duckworth streets, and provisions for full illumination along Highway 400 in the future.
The task is monumental and doesn’t currently have end dates in place for the different projects, but while Gratrix understands there are some headaches for commuters and businesses as the work is getting done, he says the entire project should benefit everyone in the long run.
“This is critically important and is a good-news story for the city,” he said. “It is solving a critical capacity constraint on Dunlop Street, because the two lanes don’t work now and the traffic volume far exceeds the capacity. That will just get exasperated as we move to the future.
"There is always going to be short-term pain on these projects, but at the end of the day when this is completed, we’re going to have a brand-new crossing, much-improved streetscape and much-improved corridor," Gratrix added.
But businesses in the commercial complex at 304 Dunlop St. W., located at the Highway 400 interchange, will be directly affected, because the proposed on-ramp is set to be built where the building currently stands.
Kelly Johnson owns Ruff Haus, a dog-grooming company which is one of 20 businesses that will be affected. She's worried about what happens next.
“We haven’t been given any information by the MTO, the city or our landlords in terms of timelines or anything,” said Johnson. “Our unit is specifically located right next to the highway, so we’re definitely going to be affected by this.
"Our lease runs until June of 2020 and we’ll be going through it with a fine-tooth comb to see what our options are," she added. "If we are told to move sooner, then I can only assume we would receive assistance.”
According to images on the site dedicated to the project, the 304 Dunlop Street buildings A and B, will have to be torn down to make way for the expanded on-ramp and widening of Dunlop Street.
Justin Goyer is the owner of The Auto Shoppe and has been in his 304 Dunlop Street location for three years, but is moving in August, not just because he needed more space, but the writing was on the wall for what was to come.
“I’ve heard nothing from the landlord, but the city has been in contact with me and I’ve been kept up-to-date,” he said told BarrieToday.
“I know there was a meeting on the issue at city hall on Wednesday, but I didn’t attend because I’m already moving," he added. "My lease is up Aug. 31 and not only do I realize this area will be completely redeveloped, I also needed a bigger space.”
Goyer saus he knows most people will be upset with the issue of moving and are feeling negative about the construction happening, but as an auto body-shop owner who relies on deliveries from outside the city, he says the work will be best in the long run.
“This is a direct effect, because we have to get out since they’re tearing the building down. But it will work out better for me for parts deliveries,” he said. “This will be better for all businesses, because it will essentially speed up delivery and create less stress on our streets.
"I get it, I’m just in the way. I know how it works and I understand. I’m just in the way.”
On the other side of the highway are multi-use commercial and office buildings on Cedar Pointe Drive.
Europro oversees the Cedar Pointe Business Park, which contains more than 170 units containing various types of businesses.
Property manager Nelly Horovitz told BarrieToday in an email that, to her knowledge, only one strip of property will be affected by the construction.
“It is our understanding that the Ministry of Transportation is in the process of widening Highway 400, and is in the process of expropriating certain lands that it requires in order to effect this widening,” said Horovitz.“This process will impact property owned by Cedar Pointe (Business Park) as well as some of the businesses which operate within Cedar Pointe Plaza.
"To date, and to our knowledge, the property currently impacted is a narrow strip of land that runs adjacent to Highway 400 and lands adjacent to 4 Cedar Pointe Dr. Cedar Pointe has received notice from the ministry that this process is beginning and we understand from some of our tenants that the ministry has provided them with notice as well," she added.
A design and construction report on the Highway 400 work will be completed to address existing environmental conditions, design features, detours and construction staging. For more information from the province on the project, click here.
