Residents living near the Montrose laneway, where a city watermain replacement project is ongoing, anticipated the dust, noise, and parking challenges. However, after nine months, many residents are expressing frustration, feeling like little progress has been made.
Situated between Montrose Avenue and Beatrice Street, the laneway serves as a crucial access point for over 200 homeowners. The city deemed it necessary to replace the underground sewer and water pipes in the narrow and hard-to-reach laneway, which led to the extended project timeline from February to December.
Despite delays due to weather and health concerns causing interruptions in the work schedule, city staff and council representatives assure residents that the project will be completed by the end of December. While some residents doubt the timeline, pointing out that only half of the job appears to be finished, officials emphasize that all necessary digging and pipe replacements have been done, with only the curb replacement and laying of a permeable brick surface remaining.
Alyssa Baker, a resident who moved in recently, shares her exasperation with the constant construction disturbances. Parking challenges have also arisen, with the city ensuring that no more than 50 garages are blocked at a time. Despite the inconvenience, some residents, like Jo Ann Pynn, who has experience working for the city, acknowledge the necessity of the project and advocate for patience to ensure a quality outcome.
The project, while causing disruptions and parking inconveniences, aims to bring long-term benefits to the community, with completion expected by the year-end.