As one York Street roadwork project wraps up, another ramps up

A section of York Street in the downtown area is set to reopen next week after being closed for two months.

The city says York from Ridout Street west to Wortley Road will be operational again following the long weekend.

The road was shut down as a result of major sewer and wastewater upgrades.

“In certain parts of our sewer system, when you flush the toilet or when the road drains from a rainstorm, it all goes into one big pipe,” said Jim Yanchula, manager of downtown projects for the City of London.

“It gets filtered but if we get too much [in the] sewers all at once, then some of it goes into the Thames were it shouldn’t.”

READ MORE: Downtown core construction to pave way for London’s future

But as one section of York reopens, another is closing.

Starting this week, a half-block stretch of York east of Ridout will be closed for the next two months for similar roadwork.

Yanchula says people living in The Renaissance towers will still be able to access their parking garage, and Londoners can still go to the plaza on York Street.

READ MORE: Ridout Street utility work adds more construction frustration to London’s downtown core

Construction in the city’s core continues elsewhere.

Talbot Street from Kent Street to Fullarton Street is closed until the end of August. The roadwork began on Monday, and will shut down the intersection of Talbot and Dufferin Avenue at a future date to be announced by the city.