Spring start to 5 years of Water Street upgrades in St. John's
Phase 1 of project starting in April between Queen Street and Bishop's Cove
The City of St. John's is moving ahead with plans to upgrade aging water and sewer infrastructure along Water Street in the downtown area.
Following the tendering process, Phase 1 should begin in April. Work will include installation of new manholes, catchbasins and leads, and storm sewers at the Water Street/Adelaide Street/Bishop's Cove intersection.
Once the water and sewer work is completed, the intersection will be reconfigured with accessible pedestrian signals
Originally the city had planned to dig up large sections of Water Street to upgrade the infrastructure, which became known as the proposed "big dig."
However, the city abandoned that plan for a trenchless method after significant public outcry about the impact it would have on businesses and services in the area.
The five-year plan is estimated to cost about $15.5 million.
Other phases
The upgrades will happen in sections each year until 2022, under the following schedule:
- Phase 1 (2018) Queen Street to Bishop's Cove
- Phase 2 (2019) Bishop's Cove to Ayre's Cove
- Phase 3 (2020) Ayre's Cove to Clift's-Baird's Cove
- Phase 4 (2021) Clift's-Baird's Cove to Job's Cove
- Phase 5 (2022) Install CIPP liner in brick sewer and Waldegrave/Water Street intersection
The city says some service disruptions will be unavoidable.
But it will work to ensure people still have access to businesses along Water Street, that water services and traffic are disrupted only temporarily and that the public is briefed on the work as it continues.