Work is expected to start on Friday on the expansion of the Downtown Renewable Energy System – news which came as a surprise to some businesses in the area.
The system is being expanded to provide heat for the new city parkade and future new pool downtown. The work will be done on George Street and Quebec Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. Both areas will be closed to traffic, but will remain open to pedestrians to access businesses, according to a statement issued by the city.
"Late last week, city crews installed signage that notified residents of the upcoming closures without first informing adjacent businesses about the construction project. The city regrets this oversight and is delivering letters this afternoon to the businesses with information about the project and apologizing for the error," the city press release said. "The city is also reviewing its processes relating to notification of capital projects."
Construction is expected to last two weeks, depending on the weather.
The system uses waste heat from Lakeland Mills to heat nearly a dozen buildings downtown. Connecting the new pool to the system is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating the building and pools by 95 per cent.
