The City of Orillia has announced that two key waterfront area construction projects will get underway this week.

Starting Monday, work will begin for the reconstruction of Laclie Street from Neywash Street to Borland Street East and for the reconstruction of Tecumseth Street from Laclie Street to Centennial Drive.

Phase 1 of the Laclie Street Reconstruction project and Tecumseth Street Reconstruction project were combined during the tender process and awarded to Arnott Construction Ltd., who is also completing Phases 2 and 3 of the Centennial Drive Area Improvements project.

The work includes construction of local sanitary sewers, storm sewers and watermains, as well as construction of curbs and gutters, sidewalks, and asphalt paving on Laclie Street from Neywash Street to Borland Street East and Tecumseth Street from Laclie Street to Centennial Drive.

During the construction project, Laclie Street will be open to local traffic only from Neywash Street to Borland Street East and Tecumseth Street will be open to local traffic only from Laclie Street to Centennial Drive.

“The reconstruction of Laclie Street is a priority for our community and for Council and I am pleased to see the first phase underway of this significant project,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “We have heard from our constituents and Council is investing significantly to improve roads and sidewalks in Orillia, including doubling funding for our annual roads and sidewalk programming and capital funding of approximately $15 million for 2023. Over the next 10 years, we anticipate investing more than $175 million in our roads infrastructure, with $29 million on the Laclie Street Reconstruction project.”

It is anticipated that the Laclie Street Reconstruction Phase 1 project and the Tecumseth Street Reconstruction project will be completed at the end of November 2023. The total budget for both projects together is $8.6 million.

The Laclie Street Reconstruction project will be phased over four years subject to annual budget approval and will consist of the reconstruction of Laclie Street from Neywash Street to Murray Street; a common left-turn lane between St. Jean Street and Murray Street; and bike lanes between North Street East and Murray Street.

Additional projects, including the Centennial Drive Area Improvements Phases 1 and 2 continue this summer.

Centennial Drive Area Improvements Phase 3 is anticipated to start in the coming weeks.