The reconstruction of Metcalfe Street next spring includes a plan to widen the sidewalks along the short street to make them compliant with accessibility standards.
That's the recommendation of city staff and the city's heritage advisory committee, which was consulted on the project last month due to the street's inclusion in the Dickson Hill Heritage Conservation District.
The city is planning to fully reconstruct the short street between Blair Road and Park Hill Road West at a cost of about $1.5 million. The reconstruction plan was initiated in 2021 with a public information centre.
It will include the replacement of the existing water main and sanitary sewers including replacement of services to the property line; replacement of the storm sewers and replacement of the existing roadway, curb, gutter; and widening the sidewalks on both sides to make them compliant with the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act).
The sidewalks are 1.2 metres wide now. To be compliant with AODA, they have to be a minimum of 1.5 metres to accommodate persons walking beside wheelchair or scooter bound persons, or persons walking beside baby carriers.
The city is proposing both sidewalks be increased to 1.8 metres using the road to expand the width, not private property.
It means the road surface will be narrowed from 7.2 metres to six metres to accommodate the sidewalk widening.
Pending council approval of the plan, the project is expected to begin in May 2025.
