A creek runs under it

Blocked sidewalk may reopen before winter

Lane Creek emerges from the farm fields north of Wellington, and then winds through the village before disappearing under Creekside Café at the intersection of Main and Wharf Streets. It flows under Wharf St., under Sprigglen Meat Market and Sprigwich sandwich shop, turns left and proceeds under Main Street, under another building at 283 Main before reappearing at the Drake Devonshire and thence spilling into Lake Ontario.

A regular inspection of the undercarriage earlier this year revealed that the structure under the sidewalk on the south side of Main Street had decayed enough to be deemed unsafe. In May, traffic bollards and fencing were installed temporarily, forcing pedestrians to clamber around—or to use the other side of the street.

Thus, it has remained an ugly barrier for five months.

The Times reached out this week for an update. According to Shire Hall, a consulting engineering firm reports that progress is being made on the design of the new sidewalk span structure. The drawings are expected this week. Once received, the municipality will prepare a tender package and seek bidders to fix the sidewalk.

“Once the tender package is completed, we intend to put this out for an expedited tender period and then immediately proceed with the repair works this fall,” wrote Shire Hall in a statement.