Preparation for a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade in Gravenhurst is underway – and it’s going to have a major impact on motorists, pedestrians, and business owners.
The Bay & Beyond project will update essential services that have been underground since 1944. Above ground repairs include roads and sidewalks with pedestrian safety and active transportation in mind.
Planned improvements include:
- Creating more opportunities for active transportation
- New multi-use trail from North Muldrew Lake Road to the Gravenhurst Farmers’ Market
- New, improved parking area to better accommodate the busy Farmers Market
- Upgrades to the Steamship Bay, Muskoka Road North/South, and Bethune intersections – traffic signals and enhancements to accessibility
- New pedestrian crosswalk downtown at Sharpe Street and Muskoka Road South
- New streetlights from Cherokee Lane to Greavette Street
- New, smooth driving surfaces
- Replacement of sidewalks and curbs
- Replacement of the 80-year-old water pipes, watermains, storm and sanitary sewers underground
Events such as the Farmers Market have been relocated for 2024 and the popular Summer Vintage Boat Show has been cancelled.
This week, the Town of Gravenhurst and the District of Muskoka is laying the groundwork for the three-year construction project. Oza Inspections have been hired by the project’s construction contractor, Trisan Construction, to perform pre-construction condition surveys for properties located adjacent to the construction area. Staff have been going door-to-door for residents and businesses in the Stage 1 construction area to schedule pre-construction condition surveys prior to construction taking place.
Next week, Trisan Construction will begin staging equipment and preparing to install a new, smooth surface on James Street to accommodate detour traffic. Construction signage for the project, upcoming James Street resurfacing work, and the full road closure of Bay Street will start to be installed.
During the week of June 3rd, Trisan Construction will apply the new surface to James Street, including paint markings and stop bar adjustments at the James St./Muskoka Rd. intersection (Shoppers Drug Mart). The surfacing of James Street will be completed overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Monday June 3rd (weather permitting) to reduce daytime disruptions. Single lane closures controlled by flaggers can be expected throughout the start of the week as work outside of the resurfacing operations is completed to accommodate the upcoming detour.
Also during the week of June 3rd following the completion of the James Street surfacing work, Bay Street will be fully closed between the Steamship Bay Rd./N. Muldrew Lake Rd. intersection and the east entrance (908 Bay St.) of the Muskoka Wharf. All traffic including large trucks will be directed to use the James Street detour route.
Bay St. will be fully closed in both directions from the Steamship Bay Rd./N. Muldrew Lake Rd. intersection to the east entrance (civic address 908 Bay St.) of the Muskoka Wharf. Access to the Muskoka Wharf parking lot and Cherokee Ln. will only be accessible from Bay St. east of the closure. James St. will be the dedicated detour and truck route for the duration of the Stage 1 (2024) road closures.
Signage around town will provide advanced warning, give notice of construction, and provide wayfinding to wharf-area businesses to remind folks businesses are open while construction is happening.
Detour Directions for Motorists
To get to the Muskoka Wharf area from Gravenhurst’s downtown core:
Go west on Bay St. (MR 169), toward John St. (at the Canada Post building)
Follow Bay St. by staying left through the Bay and Greavette streets intersection
Turn right into the Muskoka Wharf parking lot entrance at 908 Bay St.
To get to the Muskoka Wharf area from Bala:
Go east on Muskoka Rd. 169.
Turn right onto N Muldrew Lake Rd.
Turn left onto James St. W
Continue on James St. W to Muskoka Rd. S (MR 18)
Turn right onto Muskoka Rd. S
Turn right on Bay St. (MR 169), toward John St. (at the Canada Post building)
Follow Bay St. by staying left through the Bay and Greavette streets intersection
Turn right into the Muskoka Wharf parking lot entrance at 908 Bay St.
Questions can be submitted to bayandbeyond@muskoka.on.ca.
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