SOME locals used to call The Boulevarde, in Toronto, the worst main street to drive on in the city.
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The unwanted title was on account of the corrugations, eroded patches, and warping that characterised the road.
The invasive roots of the fig trees that once lined the footpath didn’t help.
But all that angst now seems like a long time ago.
The $2 million works to overhaul the driving surface on the main street were completed by the council before Christmas, months ahead of schedule.
Mayor Kay Fraser said the roadworks upgrade to The Boulevarde would improve traffic flow and increase safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
The works, originally scheduled for completion in early 2019, involved the relocation of old water mains and full replacement of the road surface from Cary Street to Victory Parade.
“Feedback from the local businesses and residents has been overwhelmingly positive since completion of the works,” Cr Fraser said.
“Our crews worked hard to ensure any impacts to businesses and the community were minimised throughout construction, and we would like to thank everyone for their patience during the works.
Feedback from the local businesses and residents has been overwhelmingly positive since completion of the works.
- - Mayor Kay Fraser
“The Boulevarde now features a high-quality road surface that is much more functional and aesthetically pleasing, and it complements our recently completed streetscape works.”
Those $4.1-million works, carried out as part of the Toronto Streetscape Master Plan, delivered wide level footpaths, outdoor dining areas, shade structures and new landscaping with improved view corridors to the lake, enhancing the aesthetic and pedestrian appeal of the busy town centre.
Where fig trees once dominated the streetscape and, some would say, gave Toronto its character, grass trees and weeping lilly pillies now prevail.
The council said the weeping lilly pillies were expected to grow to about 8 to 10 metres when fully mature – tall enough to give the street a contemporary leafy feel.
