Despite major construction underway in the heart of Goderich, Mayor Trevor Bazinet is assuring residents and visitors that the town’s iconic downtown is open for business.
The Town of Goderich officially launched its two-year, $11-million “Rebuilding Downtown Infrastructure Project” on May 12 with the goal of revitalizing Courthouse Square ahead of the community’s bicentennial in 2027. The work includes replacing aging sewer and water lines, upgrading sidewalks, repaving roads, planting new trees, and painting official lane lines to improve traffic safety around the Square.
While the construction is significant, with rotating sections of the square closed to vehicles throughout the work period, Mayor Bazinet says rumours about a full shutdown of the downtown core are simply not true.
"All businesses are open and all businesses will remain open," Bazinet told CKNXNewsToday.ca. "There’s just a little digging going on, that’s all."
The initial phase of the project is focused on the southeast portion of the square, from South Street to East Street. Pedestrian access, including accessibility for people with mobility issues, has been maintained through temporary pathways leading into storefronts, even within the active construction zone.
"I did a little Facebook video this morning just to show people that you can still enter those businesses and continue to support those businesses," Bazinet said. "It’s so important."
The mayor emphasized that businesses lining the "spokes" that flow out from Courthouse Square are also open as usual.
The town has taken steps to maintain a sense of normalcy, not just for merchants, but for the community’s celebrated events calendar.
"Our farmers market is every Saturday, our Sunday market is every Sunday, and they remain in the same locations," Bazinet confirmed. "The Pride Festival is happening this Saturday in our downtown core. The Kinsmen Summerfest will be there, our Salt and Harvest Festival on Labour Day will be there, the BIA concert series every Thursday night will be there."
Bazinet said it’s a point of pride that despite the dig, the community’s events will remain firmly rooted in the downtown core.
"Making sure that we are open for business, and making sure that there is a viable route to get in, and to host the events, that’s really important," he added.
While the town is confident in its planning, Bazinet acknowledged there have been growing pains, particularly around traffic flow. Courthouse Square has always operated as a one-way circle, but some drivers have been confused by detours and fencing.
"For some reason, since we started construction, people are driving around the square the wrong way," Bazinet said. "There is a lot of signage that tells people that you are still driving around the square in one direction, and it’s always been the same direction."
He said the town has installed additional signage and exit routes, including directing confused drivers down Montreal Street to avoid unsafe navigation around the square.
The entire downtown infrastructure rebuild is expected to pause each winter and resume in spring 2026, with final surface work completed in 2027, just in time for the Town of Goderich’s 200th anniversary.
More information, including maps and project updates, can be found at goderich.ca/downtown-rebuild.