Foster not impacted by construction

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Construction work that began recently on Main Street North (Regional Road 1), from Sandford Road to Ashworth Road, is not expected to impact the Thomas Foster Memorial, the region says.

Project manager Andrew Gorman said the Foster Memorial property will not be affected by the planned works because the excavation and grading are within the region’s current property limits right-of-way. He said the Foster Memorial will remain open to the public during construction, except for short-term disruptions as the work passes by the driveway.

The construction itself will see the roadway widened to seven metres, with a three-metre-wide shoulder on each side. He said two metres of each shoulder will be "partially paved."

Although the roadway is being widened, it will remain a two-lane route. There will be new right- and left-turn lanes constructed at the Sandford Road intersection, but there will be no passing lanes.

As well as being widened, the new roadway will be flattened "to ensure Regional Road 1 conforms to current design standards for sightlines and visibility."

Gorman said the region hopes to complete construction by August 2025, with reconstruction of the remaining stretch from Foster Drive to Harrison Drive expected to begin spring 2025.