Rehabilitation work proposed for Lorne Street in Sudbury

Morning North5:10Part of Lorne St in Sudbury to be redone

Work on a portion of Lorne Street in Sudbury from Martindale Road to Logan Avenue should begin this summer. The project is expected to last two years. The CBC's Olivia Stefanovich spoke with people who live and work in the area.

One of Sudbury's bumpiest roads is up for rehabilitation, but residents and business owners in the area are worried about the inconvenience the work may cause over the next two years.

The city is proposing infrastructure improvements onLorneStreet a road notorious for its potholes betweenMartindaleRoad to Logan Avenue, and onGutcherAvenue betweenLorneto Mary Streets.

Businesses worry about traffic delays

The job is expected to start this summer and last until October 2017.

That sounds too long for RichardTarini, who works atTariniBrothers Meat Market in the scheduled construction area.

"My clients need to come to the store and be able to get in and shop," saidTarini.

His relative, KyleTarini, works atCara'sConvenience next door. Both saidLorneStreet needs to be redone, but they are worried about how their operations could be affected.

"People wouldn't be coming down here if it was going to take too long to get here," saidTarini.

"They only have 30 minutes for lunch, some people. So if it's going to take more than 30 minutes to get here, they're just not going to come, right?"

More than just potholes to fix

The chair of the area's Community Action Network, RobertMarcolini, sympathizes with businesses.

"Hopefully the delays don't cause too much of a hassle, but if we want to get the work done it has to be done," saidMarcolini.

The work will include asphalt rehabilitation, sidewalk, water main and sewer replacements.

ButMarcolinisaid residents want cycling infrastructure and additional sidewalk lighting to be included in the plan.

"I think anytime you can invest in cycling infrastructure, I think that's a step in the right direction," he said.

"That's the way that a lot of communities are going and people have to realize that cycling is a viable option for transportation in this city."

Marcolinisaid this is the first step in the rehabilitation ofLorneStreet. He said he's heard that the entire road will be eventually redone from Copper Cliff to Elm Street.

Apublic consultation sessionto discuss the proposed work is being held at theDelki Dozzi Playground Building on Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.