Open House Next Week Regarding Downtown Dig

This is how downtown Paris will look after all the construction is completed. In addition to replacing aging infrastructure, the Downtown Dig plans will incorporate accessibility standards into the downtown core, along with visual and digital features. 

By Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

April marks the official start to the county’s road reconstruction plans for downtown Paris. The bulk of the Downtown Dig, as it is labelled, will take place between April to October to replace aging underground infrastructure. Projects of this magnitude only occur every 75-100 years. Plans to incorporate accessibility standards and enhance the visual and digital features of the downtown core are being tied into this dig project. To minimize the disruption to residents, County staff has carefully planned the project in various phases and mapped out detours, while maintaining access to key areas throughout construction. Phase 1 of the project included the replacement of gas lines downtown this past winter.Phase 2 (a) will affect Grand River Street North between Mechanic Street and William Street with a proposed start date of April 7th. Phase 2 (b) will include work from the Nith River Bridge (by Wendy’s General Store) to Mechanic Street, beginning May 20th, and is expected to last around 8 weeks. This is dependent on the completion of phase 2 (a). Phase 2 (c) will focus on Grand River Street North/William Street intersection to north of William Street. The start date for this will be shared as construction progresses. Vehicle access to Grand River Street North, from Mechanic Street to William Street, will remain closed throughout the 2025 construction schedule. Pedestrian routes will be available with locations depending on construction activities.Parking on Grand River Street North between William Street and the Nith River Bridge will be closed for the duration of Phase 2, with adjustments as construction progresses. The parking lot south of the Cenotaph (Parking Lot #3) will also be closed to the public and used as a staging area for the contractor for the construction season.Detour routes have been mapped out to minimize disruptions, maintain business access, and keep the public informed. Staff will be monitoring detour routes throughout the construction period. Traffic calming measures will be implemented at key locations along the designated detour routes to enhance safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. All this information and more will be available at a drop-in open house, hosted by the County of Brant, on Thursday, April 3 from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Paris Fairgrounds. Business owners and residents are encouraged to drop by to learn more about the construction phases and meet and speak with the county’s Economic Development and Operations teams to address questions and concerns. Enterprise Brant and the Brantford-Brant Business Resource Enterprise will be on site to support business owners. Representatives from Navacon Construction, who are executing the construction work, will be present to also address any questions. More information on the Downtown Dig project is available online at www.brant.ca/DowntownDig