Business owners were at Shire Hall last week seeking to keep Bloomfield booming this tourist season.

16 representatives of residents and businesses, led by Jade Leadbetter of The Love Loft, asked that a road reconstruction project, now slated for the 12 weeks from April to June, either be deferred or split over the shoulder seasons.

They wore buttons that said “Keep Bloomfield Blooming.”

Despite their pleas, however, Council is moving ahead with the $1.45 million rehabilitation project for Bloomfield Main Street this spring. 

Last May, the municipality secured a $2 million grant from the Ministry of Transportation’s Connecting Links Program to support resurfacing work between Corey and Wellington streets.

Seven firms bid for the project. Drew Harrison Haulage won the tender for repairs to storm sewer infrastructure, replacement of deteriorated curb and sidewalk panels, and road resurfacing with new hot mix asphalt. Mr. Harrison’s bid bested the submission made by Brampton’s Advance Excavating and General Contracting by $44,000.

County engineers estimate the affected portion of Main is nearing end-of-life and requires rehabilitation. The project must be completed by the end of the year or the funding will have to be returned.

“We could cancel this project and apply again, but the MTO might take into consideration upon reviewing a future application that we didn’t follow through with the plan,” Project Manager Garrett Osborne told Council.

Ms. Leadbetter said business owners understand the importance of infrastructure investment but wanted a reconfiguration of the timing. Construction will occur over three months critical to the financial viability of village businesses.

“A 12-week, peak-season disruption represents serious financial risk — particularly for our newest businesses, which are operating within a fragile window of time as they attempt to recoup startup investments and establish sustainable operations.” 

At the most recent Public Information Centre, business owners lobbied for the least financially disruptive option — a split schedule: April–May for completing the work from Corey to Duncan Streets, and September–October for the remainder of Main Street.

Instead, staff brought an April-to-June project schedule.

“The municipality’s chosen timeline imposes continuous construction from April through June — including a full month of peak season — with one-lane traffic and no street parking,” Ms. Leadbetter said. “There is also no runway for potential delays. Any delay, like a week or two of rain, will push construction into July. 

“This is not mitigation. This is maximum exposure.”

Road Work

With last summer’s construction on Wellington Main Street in mind, Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer asked why a split schedule wasn’t feasible. According to Mr. Osborne, such a drastic change this late in the game would require re-tendering the project and delaying the start.

Further, fall brings weather-related quality concerns and paving company availability issues for the final asphalt staging.

The Councillor was unimpressed. “Then why do we do these PICs and offer these options?” he asked. “We don’t listen to the public, we don’t listen to the business community, so why bother having them? Here we are, stuck with what’s in front of us and no alternative.” 

The Councillor’s motion to split the work, however, failed.

Given Mr. Osborne’s estimate that the project could be completed as early as the first or second week of June, Bloomfield Councillor Brad Nieman supported the original motion.

“I’m supporting it because it’s in and out. Taxpayers could be on the hook to fix this road if we don’t move ahead and this way, we are good for 25 years on Main Street and we won’t be having this conversation again,” he said. 

“The other factor is our reputation with the provincial government. That and the cost of doing this work falling upon the taxpayer in a year or two,” Mayor Ferguson added.