Local businesses feeling the impact of St. Catharines street closure

Local businesses say they are feeling the impact of the prolonged closure of a central roadway in St. Catharines.

The CN Bridge on St. Paul Street West is currently off limits, even though it connects one side of the city to the other.

It’s a project that the region says will take two years to complete.

Sandi Linton from West Side Pizzeria says Wednesdays are normally a busy time around lunch, but this week it saw only one customer.

“Well yeah it’s wing day, so normally you are packed. It’s my lunch rush usually between 12 and 2 but there is no one.”

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Hers is not the only business on St. Paul Street West that has seen a noticeable decline.

“A lot of the walk in traffic is gone and people are not driving by obviously.” said Cold Break Brewing’s Laura Garzon.

The reason for the slowdown in numbers, they say, is the current street closure.

St. Paul Street West is blocked off at the CN Bridge in both directions due to public safety. The bridge will ultimately be demolished and rebuilt, but in the meantime traffic from downtown is redirected away from their businesses.

“This is a major link and a major connection between the west side and east side of the city. We have businesses and residents that depend on this and we have to get it fixed as soon as possible.” said the city’s mayor Mat Siscoe.

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It was just before Christmas last year when the bridge closed. Businesses in the area report seeing a sharp decline almost immediately.

The rebuilt bridge is slated for completion by the end of 2025.

“This is a public safety issue, we are taking this very seriously, and we are doing everything that we can to expedite the process, project and hopefully see it come to a successful end. That the safety of the community is protected and the viability of the area around the bridge is maintained.” said Frank Tassone, the Region of Niagara’s Director of Transportation Services.

Businesses are hoping that the construction stays on track.

“Coming out of COVID it’s hard and it’s going to be another two years, it’s tough.” said Linton.