It’s not often you hear praise for a construction crew from people who live on the street they’re digging up, but that’s exactly what’s happening in one Kitchener neighbourhood.
“The guys have been phenomenal,” says Denyse Wallace.
“If you have to get out, they’ll get you out.”
Work has been taking place on Kelvin Avenue since the summer, but it’s intensified in the last few weeks.
The street is undergoing a total reconstruction, with new water and sewer lines installed underneath.
As of Monday afternoon, both Kelvin and the adjoining Donley Street were very muddy, with one sidewalk ripped up.
Residents are given parking permits for nearby streets, and then have to trek through mud and gravel to get to their homes.
It’s the sort of project that typically leads to complaining and bellyaching from people affected by the construction.
Not so on Kelvin.
“These are a terrific bunch of people that are running it,” says Fred Blundon, who says he’s had “no problem” getting into and out of his driveway despite the construction.
The only concern voiced Monday afternoon when a CTV reporter visited the street was about what would happen if the project dragged on past its planned timeline, and continued into the Christmas season.
Denyse Wallace said she hoped on-street parking would again be permitted by the time residents’ family members start coming in to celebrate the holiday.
Other than that, she described the crew’s work as “phenomenal,” pointing out that they warn residents ahead of time when the street will be completely inaccessible.
“They’ve driven people down the sidewalks to get them where they had to go. They’ve gone out of their way,” she said.
The praise for the construction crew hasn’t escaped notice at City Hall, either.
“I think we’ve had a lot of muffins baked out there,” said Chris Spere, Kitchener’s manager of construction engineering.
The road reconstruction is expected to be complete in another two to three weeks, depending on weather conditions.
