Birchaven sidewalk work on schedule; boat launch parking reduced

Those who launch boats from Armstrong Park are encouraged to make alternative parking arrangements for vehicles and trailers or to utilize the Trout Lake boat launch on Macpherson Drive in East Ferris

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1 / 1 A new sidewalk along Lakeside Drive, leading toward the Birchaven Cove.Stu Campaigne/BayToday

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The City of North Bay is advising available parking at the Armstrong Park/Olmsted Beach parking lot will be reduced throughout the summer while rehabilitation of the parking lot takes place as part of an ongoing sidewalk construction project on Lakeside Drive.

The parking lot rehabilitation will involve adjusting the grade of the surface to minimize flooding during significant rainfall events. The parking lot will be partially open to users while the work takes place, but available parking will be limited until the project is completed near the end of August. Some on-street parking is also available.

During this time, those who launch boats onto Trout Lake from Armstrong Park are encouraged to make alternative parking arrangements for vehicles and trailers or to utilize the Trout Lake boat launch on Macpherson Drive in East Ferris.

The ongoing Lakeside Drive sidewalk construction, including curb and gutter and road restoration, will continue through the summer with an anticipated completion date of August 25. During this period, one lane of traffic will be provided for access to local properties and to provide safe travel through the construction zone.

Short detours may be required to complete underground infrastructure at various locations on Lakeside Drive. As this may result in short traffic delays, travellers are advised to add extra time to their schedule or temporarily take an alternate route.

The City says the construction of sidewalks on Lakeside Drive has provided the opportunity to cost-effectively undertake the improvements to the Olmsted Beach parking lot through the repurposing of excess soils from the project.

The Lakeside Drive project is part of the $10-million ICIP Sidewalk Program, funded by contributions from the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government. The program runs until 2026 and is intended to benefit neighbourhoods that do not have existing sidewalks available to offer safe and reliable travel for pedestrians to and from existing transit stops.

The sidewalk work on Airport Road from the Kinsmen Trail access near the Davedi Club to Algonquin Avenue is scheduled to be completed this year.

The following stretches of road are slated to have sidewalks installed in the coming years:

2023