Water Street Project Near Completion

The second phase of the Water Street project has progressed well this spring and is on schedule to be completed on time. The final layer of asphalt and minor concrete work, which is weather dependent, is scheduled to be completed by June 30.

“We’d like to sincerely thank the downtown business community for working closely with us throughout this phase of the project,” said Councillor Dave Lane. “We are pleased that the project is wrapping up on schedule, just in time for the busy summer and festival season. There is plenty of parking available and regular bus routes downtown, with lots of fun and interesting things to do all summer long.”

Downtown St. John’s, which represents the businesses in the area, have been promoting the importance of downtown during the project and encouraging people to show their support on social media with the #lovedowntown contest. Every week, a gift card for a business in the construction zone is awarded to a participant of the contest. The contest continues until July 12.

“We are pleased to see the project being completed on schedule,” said Scott Cluney, Executive Director of Downtown St. John's. “We thank our downtown business community for their patience, and the public for their continued support during construction."

Water Street businesses, property owners and employees of downtown businesses are invited to attend a debrief session on Monday, July 29 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Foran/Greene Room, City Hall. Information shared will be considered during planning for Phase III in 2020.

This year saw the second phase of a five-year construction project to rehabilitate water and sewer infrastructure on Water Street which began in early April between Bishop’s Cove and Ayre’s Cove. When complete, the capital improvement project will see replacement/rehabilitation of 100-year old water mains and sewer lines and combined sewer separation between Waldegrave Street and Prescott Street.

A Water Street Stakeholder Committee including organizational representatives from all business sectors in the downtown have been actively engaged in planning, providing advice and guidance throughout the project.