North Bay's Main Street getting a facelift
Main Street in North Bay is getting its first major facelift since the 1980s and there's plenty of work to be done.
"The power supply, the water supply, the sewer, everything that needs to be upgraded will be upgraded," said North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico.
"All the sidewalks, the crosswalks, lighted crosswalks throughout the downtown. The major corners will all be redone so it's easy for travellers, easy signage to follow.”
The project was supposed to happen in 2022 but due to COVID-19 and small business recovery, the project was put on hold.
Businesses on Main Street will be affected by the construction but the hope is that it will benefit them long term.
"It does have to be done, it doesn't matter if you did it in 10 years it would still be a pain point," said Downtown North Bay and Waterfront executive director Amber Livingstone.
"Any time you interrupt a business with construction it's an interruption and a big pain point.”
Livingstone said the city is going to work with the contractor to help mitigate the impact.
“As they dig things up, they're going to have bridges so that everyone can still access the businesses that are having construction done," she said.
Chirico told CTV News he hopes the revitalization changes the negative view some people have of the area.
"Hopefully we can make it into a people place," he said.
"Hopefully we will see additional development come along with this, as we start to invest that the property owners will be investing and upgrading their properties ... Increasing tendency downtown, more rental units, those are the ultimate goals."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.