What will you do on this brand-new stretch of city sidewalk?

Pristine concrete awaits your strolling, shopping, Raygun-style Olympic breakdancing or anything else you've been aching to do on Queen Street between Spring and Brock.

AECOM, the engineering consultant overseeing reconstruction of our downtown main drag, reports most of the sidewalk work there is now complete, except at new pole locations and intersections where temporary platforms/ramps have been provided. 

"Pedestrians have been diverted to new concrete sidewalk," the consultant says in a update issued Monday.

Here's what the work crews are hoping to get done this week:

Elgin to March (north side)

• install temporary water system for civic numbers 446, 454, 458 (Reggie's) and 464
• install electrical ducts on March to power supply
• set up traffic control for closure of Queen Street at March commencing Monday, Aug. 26 for six weeks

March to Spring (north side)

• commenced with installation of unit pavers in boulevard
• prepare for paving of travel lane and complete paving if timing permits
• commence with installation of new street light pole and new supply from March Street later in week or following week

Spring to East of Brock (north side)

• complete pouring of concrete curbs and ramps
• asphalt paving
• complete electrical work within the Brock intersection including ducts, traffic pole foundations etc.

Queen Street will be closed between March and Elgin starting Monday, Aug. 26 for six weeks to complete replacement of an underground sanitary sewer, watermains and appurtenances.

The work is expected to be substantially complete late this fall with some work possibly extending into 2025.

Here's what the contractor got done last week:

Elgin to March (north side)

• completed cut and capping of existing watermain within the March Street intersection in preparation for new watermain
• installed new electrical ducts across March Street

March to Spring (north side)

• completed fine grading and other work on tree grates in preparation for unit pavers
• placed asphalt in parking bay
• completed concrete ramp at Spring intersection

Spring to Brock (north side)

• poured concrete parking curbs
• continued with underground electrical and traffic work at the Brock intersection