The long-awaited Downtown Reimagined Project got underway the week of June 22 in Grimsby, Ontario, bringing initial survey work and parking restrictions to Robinson Street as crews begin replacing aging underground pipes that have served the core since the 1950s.
Town officials confirmed that construction mobilization has started with pre-condition property surveys conducted by dBA Services Inc. Residents along the route can book an appointment by calling or texting 905-383-9491 or emailing [email protected]. These surveys document the current state of buildings before heavier work begins, giving both the town and property owners a baseline for any future concerns.
Temporary parking changes are already in place on the east side of Robinson Street North between Main Street East and John Street, while the west side remains unchanged. Active construction is set to start the week of July 6 on Elm Street, beginning near Gibson Street and moving east toward Main Street East.
The $9.1 million project is backed by a $1.9 million grant from the federal and provincial governments through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s Green Infrastructure Stream, with Ottawa contributing $1.05 million and Ontario nearly $875,000. At a June 22 event, Mayor Jeff Jordan called the work essential to replacing the downtown’s brittle, rusting cast-iron watermains and upgrading storm and sanitary sewers.
To help residents and businesses adjust, the town hosted a Meet the Machines event at the Grimsby Farmers’ Market on June 18, where families could explore the heavy equipment and talk to crews. Officials stress that all downtown shops and services will stay open throughout the estimated two-year timeline, with construction phased to keep access as reliable as possible. The contract was awarded to Alfred Beam Excavating Ltd., a Fort Erie-based company that has worked in the region since 1976.
