Picton Main Street open for summer beginning July 1
Administrator | Jun 26, 2016 | Comments 31
The County will be providing weekly ‘Picton Main Street Makeover’ construction updates to outline what work will be taking place and in what sections of Main Street. These updates are to help prepare businesses and residents for the upcoming work, and ensure that they have the most up-to-date information essential for planning their day-to-day activities.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting June 27th …
Construction Summer Break Update: ALL of Picton Main Street (road and sidewalks) will be open starting Friday, July 1st, and no construction work will take place until September 6th, 2016.
Starting Wednesday, June 29th, Coco Paving will be begin to place asphalt on the first section of Main Street. Asphalt on the second section of Main Street (Ross Street to Elizabeth Street) will be done either the same day or on Thursday, June 30th. Line painting will be completed on Thursday.
For the second section of Main Street (Ross Street to Elizabeth Street) underground work will stop in an “as-is” state. Asphalt will be placed on the road and sidewalks that have had the concrete removed, and no construction work will take place on Main Street until after Labour Day weekend. Buildings in this section will remain on temporary water lines for July and August. Taggart Construction Ltd. will be delivering notices to each building with instruction on who to contact should you have water issues over the summer months.
The installation of the new watermain and sanitary services is now complete between Ross Street and Elizabeth Street.
Sidewalks will continue to be poured to complete the sidewalk on the South-side of Main Street between Bridge and Ross Streets.
This installation process will involve pouring the first panel of the sidewalk (the portion closest to the building), and then later the curbside will be installed, followed by the middle panel once the water/sewer tie-ins have been completed.
Taggart Construction crews continue to work 7AM to 7PM and on Saturdays.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting June 20th …
Buildings on Main Street between Bridge Street and Ross Street will have watermain tie-ins completed once the main watermain has required testing approved. These connections may begin this week and will start at William Street and then move East along Main Street.
The installation of the new watermain and sanitary services will continue moving West on Main Street from Ross Street to Elizabeth Street.
Sidewalks will continue to be poured on the South-side of Main Street between Bridge and Ross Streets.
This installation process will involve pouring the first panel of the sidewalk (the portion closest to the building), and then later the curbside will be installed, followed by the middle panel once the water/sewer tie-ins have been completed.
Construction Shutdown Update: it is anticipated that during the last week of June the first section of Main Street (Bridge Street to Ross Street) will be paved and be open to vehicle traffic by July 2nd. The second section of Main Street (Ross Street to Elizabeth Street) will be paved once the sidewalk curbs have been installed to allow for asphalt paving.
Taggart Construction crews continue to work 7AM to 7PM and on Saturdays.
Temporary stop signs are in place in both directions on Mary Street at the intersection of Elizabeth Street for the duration of the construction project. This new all-way stop signs intersection is in place to allow for safe pedestrian crossing from the Mary Street parking lot.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting June 13th …
All buildings on Main Street between Ross Street and Elizabeth Street are now connected to the temporary water line.
Buildings on Main Street between Bridge Street and Ross Street will have watermain tie-ins completed once the main watermain has required testing approved. These connections may begin this week and will start at William Street and then move east along Main Street.
The installation of the new watermain and sanitary services will begin moving west on Main Street from Ross Street to Elizabeth Street.
Sidewalks will begin to be poured on the south-side of Main Street between Bridge and Ross Streets.
This installation process will involve pouring the first panel of the sidewalk (the portion closest to the building), and then later the curbside will be installed, followed by the middle panel.
When the first panel is being installed, businesses will continue to have access to their stores as ramps will be built to accommodate pedestrians. Businesses will not need to be closed during this process.
With sidewalk installations we advise that the sidewalks are not used or disturbed for at least 24 hours, including the time after which the new sidewalks are sprayed white.
Taggart Construction crews continue to work 7AM to 7PM and on Saturdays.
Temporary stop signs will be placed in both directions on Mary Street at the intersection of Elizabeth Street for the duration of the construction project. This new all-way stop signs intersection is in place to allow for safe pedestrian crossing from the Mary Street parking lot.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting June 6th …
The temporary watermain is now in place along Main Street between Elizabeth and Ross Streets. A plumber may be visiting properties to make the switch from the main line to the new temporary line.
Sidewalks will begin to be poured on the North-side of Main Street between Bridge and Ross Streets.
This installation process will involve pouring the first panel of the sidewalk (the portion closest to the building), and then later the curbside will be installed, followed by the middle panel.
When the first panel is being installed, businesses will continue to have access to their stores as ramps will be built to accommodate pedestrians. Businesses will not need to be closed during this process.
Cogeco is installing Fibre Optics along Main Street, which will offer enhanced services and opportunities for the businesses within the downtown area.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting May 30th…
Roto-Milling is scheduled to begin Monday on Main Street from Ross Street to Elizabeth Street.
Taggart Construction will spend the better part of next week finalizing all new service line hookups
Elizabeth street water tie-in’s will begin this upcoming week
Taggart Construction is installing new starburst signs that indicate that new traffic lights are in the area.
The streetlight out front of Shire Hall will be fully functional by the end of the business week.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting May 24th…
There will be NO CONSTRUCTION ON MONDAY, MAY 24th.
Taggart Construction will be continuing to make temporary water main connections to businesses along the North side of Main Street moving from east to west between Ross Street and Elizabeth Street starting Tuesday, May 24.
Notices from Taggart Construction will be delivering notices to the impacted businesses detailing when the water connections will be made for each property on Tuesday, May 24 and Wednesday, May 25.
Water service will be temporarily interrupted when the connections are being made. Businesses should contact Dave Hinchliffe (see contact information below) if their operations are sensitive to the timing of the interruption, so that this can be coordinated within the schedule.
Isolated excavations will occur within the sidewalk on the North side of Main Street as part of the installation of the water service laterals.
There will be minor lane and parking restrictions along Main Street (North side) during this process.
Taggart will continue to do construction work on the sidewalks along the North side of Main Street moving from east to west between Bridge Street and Ross Street.
Work will be done in front of one building at a time and will involve removing the curb and part of the sidewalk closest to the building. Once replaced, the middle panel of the sidewalk will be remove for utility installation.
When sidewalks are being removed in front of a building, there will be limited/no access to the building for a short period of time.
Taggart will schedule this work to take place in the morning, and have access to the buildings by 11am.
No parking will be permitted at 55 King Street on Tuesday, May 24. The parking lot will be available on Wednesday, May 25.
Temporary traffic lights will be active at the intersections of Bridge St. and Union St., and Paul St. and Main St.
Construction takes place between 7am and 7pm on week days.
Friendly Reminders…
Taggart Construction will continue to bring garbage bags from individual properties to a central location for pick-up. Please ensure that your garbage bags have a tag on it to ensure that it will be picked up by collection services.
Businesses looking for free long-stay parking can use the new municipal parking lot available at 55 King Street, with the exception of Tuesday, May 24.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting May 16th…
Taggart Construction will be making temporary water main connections to businesses along the North side of Main Street moving from east to west between Ross Street and Elizabeth Street starting Wednesday, May 18.
Water service will be temporarily interrupted when the connections are being made. Businesses should contact Dave Hinchliffe (see contact information below) if their operations are sensitive to the timing of the interruption, so that this can be coordinated within the schedule.
Isolated excavations will occur within the sidewalk on the North side of Main Street as part of the installation of the water service laterals.
Taggart Construction has delivered notices to the impacted businesses detailing when the water connections will be made for each property.
There will be minor lane and parking restrictions along Main Street (North side) during this process.
Taggart will begin to do construction work on the sidewalks along the North side of Main Street moving from east to west between Bridge Street and Ross Street.
Work will be done in front of one building at a time and will involve removing the curb and part of the sidewalk closest to the building. Once replaced, the middle panel of the sidewalk will be remove for utility installation.
When sidewalks are being removed in front of a building, there will be limited/no access to the building for a short period of time.
Taggart will schedule this work to take place in the morning, and have access to the buildings by 11AM.
Temporary traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Bridge St. and Union St., and Paul St. and Main St. These lights will be active for the duration of construction and will be operational by Friday, May 20.
Construction takes place between 7AM and 7PM on week days. There will be no construction on Monday, May 23.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting May 7th…
Taggart Construction will be making a temporary water main connection to the Canada Post Office on Saturday May 7:
An isolated excavation will occur within the sidewalk that will block access to the front entrance of the building, as part of the installation of the water service lateral. There will be access to the parking lot at the back of the building through the East side.
Access to the front entrance will be available after noon that same day.
There will be a final excavation of the roadway at the intersection of Bridge Street and Main Street (top of the town hill) on Monday, May 9th for the duration of the day. A flag person will be on site to direct traffic flow.
Temporary traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Bridge St. and Union St., and Paul St. and Main St. These lights will be active for the duration of construction and will be operational within the next 1-2 weeks.
Picton Library Launches Kids Construction Zone
Visit the Picton Library on Saturday, May 7th for the safety tape cutting at noon to launch their kids construction zone. The zone was created to educate children about construction and allow them to experience hands-on activities related to construction work.
The zone has created in part by donations and support from: Taggart Construction Ltd., Greer Galloway Consulting Engineers, Terra Vista Landscape Firm, and Picton Home Hardware.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting May 2nd:
Taggart Construction will be continuing to make temporary water main connections to businesses along the South side of Main Street moving from east to west.
Water service will be temporarily interrupted when the connections are being made. Businesses should contact Dave Hinchliffe (see contact information below) if their operations are sensitive to the timing of the interruption, so that this can be coordinated within the schedule.
Isolated excavations will occur within the sidewalk on the South side of Main Street as part of the installation of the water service laterals.
Taggart Construction has delivered notices to the impacted businesses detailing when the water connections will be made for each property.
There will be a second excavation of the roadway at the intersection of Bridge Street and Main Street (top of the town hill) on Monday and Tuesday (May 2 & 3). A flag person will be on site to direct traffic flow.
Temporary traffic lights will be installed at the intersections of Bridge St. and Union St., and Paul St. and Main St. These lights will be active for the duration of construction.
Friendly Reminders…
Taggart Construction will continue to bring garbage bags from individual properties to a central location for pick-up. Please ensure that your garbage bags have a tag on it to ensure that it will be picked up by collection services.
Businesses looking for free long-stay parking can use the new municipal parking lot available at 55 King Street.
Click here, or the Main Street Makeover logo, for more details on the project.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting April 25th:
On Monday, April 25 Taggart Construction will begin making temporary water main connections to businesses along the south side of Main Street moving from east to west.
Water service will be temporarily interrupted when the connections are being made. Businesses should contact Dave Hinchliffe (see contact information below) if their operations are sensitive to the timing of the interruption, so that this can be coordinated within the schedule.
Isolated excavations will occur within the sidewalk on the South side of Main Street as part of the installation of the water service laterals.
Taggart Construction has delivered notices to the impacted businesses detailing when the water connections will be made for each property.
There will be excavation of the roadway at the intersection of Bridge Street and Main Street (top of the town hill) beginning as early as next Thursday. Two-way traffic flow at this location will be maintained, but some larger truck traffic may be redirected along detour routes.
Here’s what construction work is happening starting April 18th:
Temporary water will soon be connected to the municipal line. Starting as early as Tuesday, April 19th, Taggart Construction will start to do connections to businesses.
Water service will be temporarily interrupted when the connections are being made. Businesses should contact Dave Hinchliffe or Robert Ross (see contact information below) if their operations are sensitive to the timing of the interruption, so that this can be co-ordinated within the schedule.
Starting on the North side of Main Street isolated excavations will occur within the sidewalk area as part of the installation of the water service laterals.
Taggart Construction will be delivering notices to the impacted businesses for when water connections will be made.
For more information about the project, visit www.thecounty.ca and click on the Picton Main Street Makeover logo.
Need assistance or have further questions?
For CONSTRUCTION inquiries: (i.e. access to buildings, deliveries, parking)
Project Engineer:
Matthew McIntosh
Project Manager
Greer Galloway Consulting Engineers
613.966.3068 x336
mmcintosh@greergalloway.com
Project Contractor:
Justin Haight
Project Manager and Communications
c: 613.561.8149
o: 613.389.7550 x227
jhaight@taggartconstruction.com
ON-SITE Assistance (for businesses and residents within the construction area)
Robert Ross
On-Site Superintendent
c: 613.536.9973
rross@taggartconstruction.com
Dave Hinchliffe
On-Site Foreman
c. 613.536.9977
EXTRA ASSISTANCE: Two workers with blue hardhats are available to assist within the construction zone for issues such as pedestrian assistance, delivery and pick-up assistance.
Filed Under: Featured Articles
@adj I appreciate that those catering to the tourist industry need to making a living. I have also observed that many of them make a very good living indeed. The minions who do their grunt work not so much. Maybe they could share the wealth
@ Marnie..I agree with most of your comments and I did propose that a better minimum living wage is necessary to live in the County one of the most expensive places in Ontario.I guess we can blame Prov. politics for that issue.
Right now talking to seasonal (Apr.–Dec.)employers they cannot find reliable,dependable (and a bunch of other adjectives)local laborers and therefore must depend on off shore workers to work in the fields and orchards etc. . This has been ongoing since the early 60s.Why is that? Well one thing is the Ont. minimum wage is too low to warrant driving to and from and secondly it’s grunt work that doesn’t appeal to the average highschool grad.A closer look at this hiring of offshore labor shows how costly it is however you get dependable workers who will put in 9-10hrs. seven days a week if necessary.It appears local laborers are not game for that.
Just saying something is wrong with this picture and it needs fixing.
Don’t really know how but I don’t think you can point a finger at the the vendors etc. who cater to the tourist as you have indicated.Their making it the best way they can and as quickly as they can because of the short time frame.They want to continue living here in this great place too.
I can think of only a few who were born, raised and never lived or worked outside of the County. They all started with nothing but struggled and finally built a business. HJ McFarland as an example and in later years Anderson Farms.
Anyways,one cannot fault the tourist or the people that sell their wares to them or the new homeowners that settle here. Sorry for the ramble!
@ADJ Do you really believe those seasonal part-time minimum wage jobs created by tourism will allow county young persons to live and work in their home communities? I wanted to live in this great community but early-on deduced that to do it I had to find work outside it. I never would have made it selling veggies at a roadside stand or changing linens at a tourist resort. I commuted to a job outside the county and enjoyed the best of both worlds. I was fairly paid and came home to the county every night. Try living on what you can earn at a summer job in the tourist industry.
So many good points. Belleville and Hastings have crosswalks directly in front or beside Municipal Offices. We have many that cannot attend their own Municipal office in any safe manner. They are really being denied a right. I am surprised it has not be challenged. But why should it have to be? Do we not have someone addressing Ontario Accessibilty regulations?
The electoral inequities well noted. Do we not have more pressing issues than heritage? Roads, water, traffic, affordable housing, health care for a few. And what about accessibility? How does a person with accessibility requirements access our glorious Shire Hall? Not a crosswalk from the Regent Theatre all the way to the Community Centre! A Municipal building that most cannot cross the street safely to access. Makes one wonder about priorities for our residents.
Couldn’t agree more. These Councilors want to dictate to Picton residents, street scape, sidewalks, crosswalks, patios, parking or no parking, if a sign is 4 inches too long and the wrong color and our forever heritage or Yada Yada Yada! We had the opportunity to vote for a measley 2 of those 15 reps. Sound fair?
It is an electoral process that is as unfair and inequitable as one can imagine. Rural Councilors affecting Picton issues with absolutely no mandate to do so. They have a lot to say but if water issues are raised they run like rabbits back to their antiquated outdated Ward former township boundaries! I can’t wait for the OMB to bring us voter equity.
This heritage topic raises tons of issues none more than our electoral process which will soon be under OMB review. I didn’t elect the Athol Councilor to be speaking on Picton heritage matters. He does not represent me. There lies the issue. If we were all County wide to elect our reps that are influencing all County issues that would be fair representation. No one is speaking to the landscape heritage issues in Athol! An Athol couuncilor may even be in conflict with heritage matters since their personal business could be impacting heritage. When we arrive at a County wide slate of candidates for election our representation and voter equity will have arrived.
A bit off topic but had to respond to Marnie,,
Fact is it is good for the locals and to add to Marnies list there is also the beer breweries, the many roadside veggie stands the greenhouse operations the fruit and vegetable growers that market here and in Kingston/Belleville.All employers looking for laborers in the season. It’s not polite to ask the customer “Are you a Tourist”? lol. Just sell them the product and send them on their merry way.
Point that Marnie is missing is how local employment figures into this scenario.You want to keep living in this great place get a job that supports your lifestyle.Sitting back and complaining about how things used to be doesn’t accomplish much,,nobody really cares and stop feeling sorry for yourself.
I will agree that a better minimum wage geared to the high cost of living here should be negotiated and promised between employee and employer. That’s only fair after a trial work period.I’d suggest drawing up a contract with the details agreed on and signed by both.
This has been a great discussion and an important one. But I would like to suggest that we carry our concerns beyond this forum and to contact our Councillors and Mayor. I did just that recently – the response I received from our Mayor stated very clearly that the Heritage Committee could still have input for changes because what is taking place right now is only the demolition portion of the job!!?? However, after reading our local paper last night, a totally different scenario is given. I think the Heritage Advisory Com. could use some support – the public are left scratching their heads wondering what our downtown will look like? Let Council know that you are watching.
Tourists are the sacred cows. Forget about what’s good for the locals. The goal is to pack those visitors in and ply them with wine, cheese and five-dollar ice cream cones.
Interesting. So much interest in Picton’s heritage streetscape but little on how our rural landscape heritage is being destroyed for tourists and of course $$.
Call the Athol Councilor. He might have some insight.
All the units packed tight together at Outlet Pt. Road. Congestion like none other. All these units have fire pits. How did this pass the building code and Heritage test? It certainly is destroying the heritage of the mouth of the Outlet river and East Lake!
I guess nobody knows anything about it. A quiet lot!
What happened to Council live streaming??
Is it not a tad late for a survey since the street is already being built?
Completed the main street revitalization survey on line today. Hope this works better for me than the Council Size one! LOL
Well at any rate the clock is ticking and any small delay will cost the taxpayers dearly. I have never been convinced that construction should shutdown for July & August with such a deadline looming and fall weather being unpredictable.
Gary, I appreciate your point of view, but this has NOTHING to do with an unelected group making decisions, nor is there a timing issue at stake – it is time for your own reality check and to stop the panic mode. The Heritage group is in place to “advise” Council – Council still makes the decision AFTER the project has gone through a number of planning stages. From what I have read, none of this consultation occurred -as directed by our own by-laws and provincial statute. No one is suggesting anything other than for Council to follow their own process and to ensure that our street-scape is done properly – which so far maybe in doubt.
Dennis; Reality Check. The funding of $2,000,000 is dependant on completion of the main street project by December 31, 2016. Now with taking July & August for tourist trade, you suggest we need an unelected group of heritage folks to tell us how a street should be rebuilt! The clock is ticking or we lose the funding. Heritage has a place and time but in regards to a street re construction or a lovely gold & blue Bum on a sign, we don’t need the help. Let’s get it done and leave a 25 year business alone.
I think some are misunderstanding the importance of what has happened here. I think it is safe to say that if not all, then certainly the vast majority agree with the improvements to downtown. The problem is that Council has proceeded in a manner that could jeopardize what the appearance of downtown will be. Being concerned is not having “heritage going mad,” but rather being concerned means wanting to see something that reflects our community’s values, and in seeing our tax dollars being spent wisely. Right now this construction is taking place without the public knowing what the plan is, and without any input from the Heritage Advisory – something that was suppose to happen under our municipal by-laws. The question to ask now is – why didn’t this happen and under what plan or direction is this project taking place? The fact that the permit won’t be dealt with until May 10th, reveals that Council proceeded by placing the cart before the horse – again. It should make us wonder just how much thought they gave to this project. Council has spent a lot of time upset over the “Beach Bum” sign – why not this project?
Heritage gone mad. What about real time? We need roads, new development and control of water costs. There a lot of people living in the present not the past!
As Dennis notes, the Major Heritage Permit for Picton Main Street “revitalization” is agenda item 8.7 listed for the May 10, 2016 Council meeting. The Clerk has [re]distributed my letter on what I believe to be a formal basis; unfortunately I will be out of Canada and unable to make a “personal deputation.”
Gary notes that the Heritage Advisory Committee (PEHAC) is unelected; however, it was established (on electors’ behalf) by Council, and their role is defined by the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) and the local bylaw. Only Council can issue a Major Heritage Permit, yet if Council disregards or overrides PEHACS’s advice, they are on a very slippery slope setting a precedent that has enormous potential do more harm than good.
In 2013, the appeal against the Heritage Conservation District (HCD) was not (repeat not) against preserving heritage — it opposed the outrageous lack of public input, the total vagueness of the text, red tape, and the widely perceived potential for municipal employees to have the force of law behind “Do what we say, not what we do.”
As the 28 April editorial in the Gazette noted: “[we] might feel [our] objections were justified…”
Lastly, it should be noted that the HCD bylaw (see p. 3) trumps all other bylaws: “in the event of a conflict with any other municipal by-law, the provisions of an HCD Plan
prevail, but only to the extent that a conflict exists. This is in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act (2005), Section 41.2 (2)” — in other words, any budgetary bylaw authorizing Public Works contract for Main Street is, in case of conflict, overriden by the HCD.
Good points here, but I do not want an unelected Heritage Advisory Committee making decisions. We need reasonable decision making from “elected” officials.
No trees! Absurd! Can’t wait for the OMB that will finally deal with our Council fiasco. The County is going to look really bad at the hearings on how they dealt with Council size and ignored the public process.
I did some follow-up after these comments, and found out that Council will be dealing with the Heritage Permit at their meeting of May 10th. I hope that the Heritage Committee has been invited for comment and if there is a problem with this design, then they will challenge Council for a change. If what I read is correct, the absence of trees is cause enough for concern.
Thanks to the both of you for responding to my inquiry. Mark – the thing is this is not a reconstruction – that word alone implies that it will be recreated as it was – Council advertised that this was a “redesign” to fit in with the heritage of the town. It appears from what I have read in the press and from Paul’s response, our Council did not follow their own process (again) – and yet demanding that both citizens and businesses do. My question(s) is just who did design this street and why didn’t Council follow their own process? Once again, something that everyone should be looking forward to ends up in a needless controversy – thanks to Council!
My experience with our Heritage Advisory Committee is not positive. Self serving comes first to mind. The committee is unelected and should not be given any more influence and power than that of an advisory opinion. When did a street re construction have anything to do with heritage? Move on and get it done!
There was a public meeting, early March, at the Picton fairgrounds, concerning this $5 million (approximately $2 million provincial, $3 million local taxpayers) project which has been about two years in the making. I spoke to a Councillor and the PEC Director of Community Development. Neither of these two gentlemen were aware of any requirement under bylaw 3286-2013 (Picton Main Street Heritage Conservation District.) The latter wrote to me three weeks later, on 25 March, to confirm that in hindsight a Major Heritage Permit was required, and that PEHAC had been provided some data.
At the PE Heritage Advisory Committee meeting on April 21, I requested the inclusion in the Major Heritage Permit of (a) a plan to replant existing trees and possibly add a few more; (b) unify the [imitation] red brick boulevards at the width of the tree emplacements; and (c) eliminate the kerb extensions. The Committee members agreed and added (d) a more appropriate design for street lighting; and (e) elimination of a rather large planter tub with very conspicuous metallic letter signage.
A Councillor clarified that it was too late to do anything about the design, and a staff member dictated a motion that I can only describe as rubber-stamping of the municipal failure to comply with the HCD bylaw.
I was impressed by the Heritage Committee’s understanding of the matter. Nevertheless, their opinion was requested far too late in the process — how and why the municipality dropped the ball is beyond my understanding.
However, I have written (to the Mayor and all Councillors) on this subject, suggesting that if they set one set of rules for themselves and another for e.g. Beach Bum, they are setting a dangerous precedent.
Now, it’s wait and see what they do.
I have read at least one article and one letter in The Times explaining the situation that this new construction was not approved by the Heritage Advisory Committee and never received the approved permit for this construction. Can some one at Shire Hall or on the Heritage Com. clarify this? If true, I hope the construction stops – what is being described in these articles sounds quite unattractive. It also begs the question(s) of who approved this street design? Looking forward to having this matter clarified – thanks.