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Whitby Fme Press, Weclnosday, June 29, 199, Page 13 Merchants concerned about Dundas repairs By Mfike Kowalski A major construction project pianned for downtown Whitby this summer has local business owners concerned. Some mierchants along a three- biock section of Dundas Street are worried about access te their businesses being significantiy re- stricted or cut off entirely by the construction. As a resuit municipai off'iciais have spent the past few weeks assuring the morchants that measuros wiii ho taken to reduce the impact on their businesses as much as possible. Beginning mid-July and iast- tng for 12 te 14 weëks, Dundas Street hotween Brock and Hick- ory streets wiii ho torn up and irvd to modemn standards. Existing storm and sanitary sewers, as weii as the inadoquate watermains, wil ho replaced. The $1.5-miiiion project, fun- ded in p art ($760,9000) by the Canada/Ontario Infrastructure Works program, wil provide bet- ter water pressure for fire protec- tion in the downtown core and reduce the danger of flooding from backed-up storm sewers. Whiie no one questions the need for the improvemonts, a few merchants are skeptical of assurances from the Town and Durham Region that every effort wiil ho made te minimîze the disruption te their businesses. Meetings with public worlcs staff eariier this rnonth faiied to convince Paul Savage, owner of a hobby shop in a smail plaza on the north side of Dundas, west of Ash Street. «As things stand now, l'il have no accoss te my store,» said SaLvagein a recent interview. ~1cnt have my access to the highway (Dundas) cut off for four mqnths and survive," he said. Uniese ho soon Vets a commit- ment from municipal officiais that there will ho access to tho plaza, Savage said ho may have no alternative but to move. "«I'm now in a situation where if I don't get it (a commitment), I may have to leave Whitby," ho salad. Savage said affected property owners were sent a notice advis- ing themn of a workshop in which details of the project would ho discussed. But the notice did not suffli- cientiy stress the importance of merchants attending the meet- ing, Savage claimed. "Only one person went to the meeting and ho told us what was planned,» said Savage. A follow-up session was quickiy arranged and almost al businesses were represented, Savage said. «It was a very constructive meeting, a lot of things were worked out,» ho said. Several merchants came away satisfied that provisions will ho made te ensure accoss wherever possible, Savage conceded. "But aIl of us would feel a lot botter if we got a letter saying the Town wouid txgt and accom- modate us. None of us have that to date,» ho said. Savage also noted that engineering firm Totten Sums Hubicki has been hired as a consultant on the project. "No consultant 'taiked to anyone who was at the meeting,» ho said. "How can they (Totten Sims) say how it will affect us if they didn't talk te us?» Martin Agnew, co-owner of Thruway Mufflier at 300 Dundas St. E., asica "How are we going te Worried that access may be eut off do business if no one can get ini herer ho asked. «It's not like a pizza place. We have to have access.» Agnew suggested that munici- pal officiais consider using two shifts of workers in order to do the job faster. "If they're going to shut down the cittey should keep it to a bare minimum,» lhe said. Agnew added that neither hie nor his partner were contacted prior to learning of the project. A few other disgrnt1ednmer- chants also told The Free Pres they were not pleased with the way the matter was handled, but did not want to be quoted. «We're not saying we don't want it done, but do it with the least amount of impact on busi- ness aid Sava&re. "Teir (Town s) feeling is do it with the least amount of impact on construction.» Whitby public works director Wayne H-ancock sympathized wit the merchants' plight. "What they're asking for is not to be disturbed, we understand that,» said Hancock. "But when you dig up a road te put in sewers you will have disruptions." Hancock explained that the contract for the roect, which has yet to ho awarded, stipulates that two lanes of Dundas must be kept open and access «within reason» ho maintained. "'Ne expect it (problenis with accees) to bo very minimal,"»lho said. 'TMe contract is sot up to provide traffic flow as much as Sossible and accosa to usinesses." Hancock pited out that a system will hoin place to handle probiema which might crop up on a day-to-day basis. 'TMe consultants will have their people on site to deal with any concerne," lho said. «We holieve we will ho able to minimize problenis to the pro- perty owners.» Loéttors outliningl what will happen will also ho' sent to the morîchants Hancock said. "Normally what we do is send out a notice saying who the contractor is and who to contact if there's a problem,,»lho said. «We can provide them with letters if they want it in writing.» Hancock acknowlodged that there may have been a valid reason for the sparse attendance at the first merchants' meeting. «I appreciato that they didn't understand what the workshop was about. That's why we had a second meeting.» Hancock strossed that the pro- ject is essential te the down- town's future. "Dundas Street is not in good shape. There are deficient storm sewers, water and sanitary sewers. "Our intent is to keep the merchants operating, but fore- most in our minds is what's host for the taxpayors and commercial owners overail.» Centre ward councillor John Doîstra echoed Hancock's com- ments. "We had a public meeting and everyone was notified,» said Dol- stra. "Itfs my understanding thore will ho access te ail businesses.» Doîstra said hoe han spoken te most of tho affected inerchants and they accept what is boing done. «Obviously when you go across someone's èrîvoway they have concerns1» ho said. «'Ne will do everything possible teovido access.» Robert Levesqe manager of the W.C. Town Funerai ape at 110 Dundas St. E., han no reason te disheliovo Town offi- ciaIs. "rm prepared te accept thefr word. ThIis morning (June 16) we wero told wo would have an entrance off Green Street," lho said. "If they stay with what they're sayi ng I h ve no problem.» Levesque added that ho will hire extra staff te direct trafflic in and out of the funeral home. "Thore will ho a little incon- venience, but not much,» hoe said. Brian T'g~ manager of the Toronto Domiion Bank at 107 Dundas St. E., said company officialis have discussed their access problema with Town staff. «We realize the need (for the work), but we also want te minimize the inconvenienco te our customoers,» said Trigg While "confident" thathis eus- tomers' needs can ho addressed, Trigg is not certain how the construction wii affect deliver, and pick-up of money by Brink s security trucks. For safety rossons, the trucks must park in front of the bank in an open area. «We're stiil waiting for a res- ponse from our operations departmnent about whother this restricts their safety,» said Trigg. 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