Residents and businesses on Lockhart Road have been impacted by road construction that has been underway since 2019 – but they shouldn’t look to the town for compensation for lost business or inconvenience.
The town has no plans to provide compensation.
The Town of Innisfil, contacted for comment, noted that the work – reconstruction, installation of sewer and water mains, replacement of culverts, and repaving between 25 Sideroad and 20 Sideroad – was planned as a two-and-a-half year project.
“The majority of the work is scheduled to be completed in 2020 except for the top layer of asphalt, final road shouldering, driveway tie-ins and final line painting,” all of which are scheduled for spring of 2021, a town spokesperson said.
The work is reportedly on budget – but there was no indication if it is on schedule or if, as local residents fear, it is falling behind, necessitating more full road closures as the contractor tries to catch up.
Even when a full closure is required, the town has insisted, “Full access to residences and businesses (has) been maintained throughout the project through a combination of open traffic lanes and detour routes.”
As a result, the official position of the municipality is that “as the town and the contractor have provided continuous access to the local businesses throughout the duration of construction, there are no plans to provide compensation.”
But local business owner Robert Saunders challenges that concept.
The closure of the intersection of Lockhart and 25 Sideroad on Tuesday resulted in a lengthy 9 km detour for motorists driving north on 25 Sideroad. Vehicles were directed to drive west along Line 10 to Sideroad 20, north to Mapleview, then east to rejoin 25 Sideroad. Access to businesses in the Sandy Cove Plaza and residences on the south side of Sandycove Acres was achieved by following the detour signs through the retirement village.
For Saunders, who has kept the Cove Café and Fish and Chips restaurant open for take-out and delivery, the added kilometres and time have made it impossible to deliver south of Lockhart. If the closure continues, “we’ll have to be closed. It’s a forced closure that I don’t want to do,” he said.
Yet, "even with no money coming in," the bills continue, Saunders said - gas, hydro, phone, and especially rent, payable to Parkridge which operates Sandycove Acres and the Sandy Cove Plaza.
The intersection closure is expected to last four days, “weather permitting and barring any unexpected issues,” noted the town. Even after the intersection has reopened, construction and closures will continue on Lockhart west of 25 Sideroad to Earl Street.
“The town is working closely with the contractor to minimize the need for additional road closures beyond Oct. 30, however in order to complete the work as expeditiously as possible for completion by the end of 2020, consideration of allowing full closures beyond Oct. 30 may be required, as is typical for projects of this nature,” the spokesperson noted.
The town was also asked about emergency response times, during the closures. Their response: “Emergency services have been engaged throughout the construction works and are aware of the current road closures and detour routes, and have made adjustments accordingly.”
At least for the coming weeks, residents and businesses can expect to be impacted by construction and road closures.
Saunders indicated that he would be talking with a lawyer. “What further could I do? Why do people have to fight to have the road open – to have access to their homes and businesses?”
