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There’s a sizable hole in the ground in downtown London, and while it’s not a sinkhole akin to the huge one that notoriously cracked open in the core 17 years ago, it’s still expected to be a headache.
The intersection of Dundas and Waterloo streets is closed for two months to rebuild a Bell manhole, a confined space offering its workers access to communications cables, according to city hall’s website.
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As construction kicks off, the cables are being secured while a surrounding concrete structure is removed and repoured to create a larger space for the cables.
Pedestrians and cyclists can still get through the intersection, and access to businesses and properties will be maintained during construction. But it’s already proving to be a damper on local business.
Masoud Ahmadi, owner of Pizza Rounds on Waterloo Street, said business has slowed since construction started on Jan. 13, but customers are largely used to downtown construction.
“We’re not very happy with it, but it is what it is,” he said. “It’s not the longest, but I hope it won’t take any longer than two months.”
Rocky Mountain Pizza Plus, a food truck that opened a Waterloo Street location including a bubble tea shop just weeks ago, said while business has dipped amid the big dig, they have consistent foot traffic.
Manager and cook Javed Jan pointed to the neighbouring YMCA and office building, the Delta London Armouries hotel across the street and even the construction workers themselves as consistent sources of customers.
“It’s changing a little bit . . . not too much,” he said, adding most people don’t come by vehicle anyway. “I know some people here, they say, ‘I’m working in this building, what am I going to do with a car?’”
The intersection is expected to reopen March 14, and city hall advises transit users to visit the London Transit Commission website for service updates and detours.
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