North Bay business owner says road construction may force him to close

The owner of a convenience store and gas bar in North Bay’s northwest end says a road construction project has hurt his business so severely, he might have to close.

Ray Seguin, owner of the Lucky 13 store on Mckeown Avenue, is questioning why the city and the construction crews closed the intersection with McNamara Street that runs beside his business.

Ray Seguin, the owner of a convenience store and gas bar in North Bay’s northwest end says a road construction project has hurt his business so severely, he might have to close. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

"Business is down 75 per cent," he told CTV News Tuesday morning.

"So in numbers, that amounts to about $5,000 a month right now."

Construction crews started blocking off the intersection in late June. McNamara is closed for offices, port-a-potties and containers.

Seguin was told the street would reopen Oct. 25, but four days later, the road is still closed.

"It keeps on changing," he said, of the reopening date.

"I think they just tell me what I want to hear."

In May, city council awarded a $9.6 million construction contract to Ed Seguin & Sons Trucking and Paving Ltd. to complete the project.

The work involved widening McKeown Avenue to accommodate four lanes of traffic, with two lanes in each direction.

Additionally, a new multi-use path will be built on the south side of the road, extending from Gormanville Road, past Cartier Street to the intersection at A&W.

The owner of a convenience store and gas bar in North Bay’s northwest end says a road construction project has hurt his business so severely, he might have to close. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The owner of a convenience store and gas bar in North Bay’s northwest end says a road construction project has hurt his business so severely, he might have to close. (Eric Taschner/CTV News)

The multi-use path is expected to be extended in the future to connect with Airport Road.

As part of the project, traffic lights and street lamps will be installed at the McNamara/McKeown intersection.

All existing underground water and sewer services will be replaced, with the exception of a large concrete trunk storm sewer. A storm sewer will be installed beneath the multi-use path.

Will reopen late in November

In a statement to CTV News on Tuesday afternoon, the city said McNamara Street will reopen by late November.

"The decision to allow Ed Seguin and Sons Trucking & Paving Ltd. to use a portion of McNamara Street as a staging area was based on its proximity to alternate access routes to the neighbourhood, such as Cartier Street, and to facilitate future water and sewer installations," said city spokesperson Gord Young.

"However, due to early groundwater challenges, this phase of the project has not yet begun."

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The city added that it understands construction "can bring temporary disruptions, and we are committed to working with the contractor to minimize the impact on businesses and residents as much as possible."

Seguin said his hand has already been forced. He’s already laid off staff and cut back hours. Every day, he said he is one step closer to having to close the doors to the nearly 40-year-old business for good.

"We're in negotiations with the landlord right now, and I’m not sure," he said.

"The city won't give me an honest answer and they keep on having delays."

Despite some minor setbacks, the city said the original completion date of October 2025 is on track.