Harrow Streetscape Construction Begins

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Town of Essex Photo

Construction on new and refreshed streetscape in Harrow has begun.

“Council and I are thrilled to see shovels in the ground and the official start of this project,” said Mayor Larry Snively. “This is truly an investment in the future of Harrow and the rest of the Town of Essex community. From the beginning, Harrow residents and small business owners have been at the heart of the project. They offered their feedback on the design of the streetscape, and we are excited to see the concept become a reality.”

In 2018, Council appointed consulting firm Stempski Kelly Associates Inc. to engage the Harrow community and create a plan. Last year, Council agreed to invest more than $5 million toward the implementation of the project, although the impacts of COVID-19 delayed the engineering phase and start of construction until 2021.

The project, which will take place on Queen, King, and McAffee Streets.  It includes AODA-compliant sidewalks/crosswalks, curbs, bicycle racks, landscape treatments and plantings, and new street lighting.

In addition to the streets, urban design improvements will occur in special areas such as significant intersections, gateway entrances, push-button controlled pedestrian crossings, and accessibility challenges.

In February of 2021, Council awarded the Request for Tender for Harrow Streetscape construction to J.C.S. Construction Inc. for $4.6 million, under the originally budgeted amount.

The project also received nearly $250,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs’ Rural Economic Development  grant program. Funds from the grant will support the cost of landscaping and street furniture such as benches, bike racks, and planters in both the Harrow and Essex Centre streetscape projects.