Leamington businesses feeling impact as major Seacliff Drive construction moves ahead

Leamington businesses are speaking out after construction has caused stress for businesses on Seacliff Drive. CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell has more.

Business owners along Seacliff Drive East say they are already feeling the effects of major infrastructure construction, as the Municipality of Leamington moves forward with projects aimed at accommodating future growth.

Work resumed this week on the Seacliff Drive West roundabout, a project Mayor Hilda MacDonald says should only cause short-term disruption. But on the east side of town, a larger and longer project is expected to last well into next year.

Construction along Seacliff Drive East — stretching from Danforth Avenue to County Road 33 toward Point Pelee National Park — includes a major sewer line upgrade backed by a $41 million provincial investment.

Municipal officials say the upgraded Northeast Trunk Sewer system is expected to pave the way for as many as 6,500 new housing units in the coming years, supporting significant residential growth on both the east and west sides of town.

“It’s going to be inconvenient. Without a doubt,” MacDonald said.

“It might take you a little bit longer to get to work, because you’re going to have to go a different route.”

At Stop & Shop Seacliff Variety, owner Al Matar says customers are already raising concerns about access and whether businesses will receive any support if revenue drops during peak tourism season.

“Yes, we are (feeling the impact),” Matar said.

“And we do get some questions — is the city going to help? Do we get any kind of compensation in return? And so far, no good news.”

Matar said the timing of the construction is challenging, as summer months typically bring increased traffic to the corridor from both residents and tourists.

“They’re going to open the street and they’re going to close it again. And the timing as well is not the best because this is our season in the summer,” he said.

“If it’s just a short-term pain for a long-term gain, I guess we’ll take it. But maybe we can see some compensation?”

He suggested possible property tax relief or support for landlords that could help offset potential losses.

However, not all businesses share those concerns.

Butch Demers, owner of Pelee Wings Outfitters, said he remains confident visitors will continue to make their way through the construction zone.

“When you talk about the birding season and birders coming to town, it’s a very intellectual group,” Demers said.

“They’re going to find their way. They’re very familiar with the area. I don’t think they will be slowed down.”

Demers acknowledged there could be occasional confusion for first-time visitors but credited the municipality’s signage efforts.

“The town’s done a nice job with the signage,” he said.

“Maybe people for the first time will have some difficulty. But after that, I think they will be okay.”

With only a few main routes leading to Point Pelee, Demers said most visitors remain determined to reach the park despite detours.

“There’s only a couple ways to the park,” he said.

“You can take the back roads, but a lot of people like to come this way.”

Nearby resident and delivery driver Fern Keitch said construction has forced drivers to adjust their routes.

“We’ve got to take the big detour around everywhere,” Keitch said.

“Any construction sucks. Not just one, any of them because it just ties up everything.”

Still, Keitch acknowledged the need for more housing in the growing community.

“We need the homes here anyway because we’re getting quite the population,” she said.

“It’s got to get done right.”

MacDonald said the infrastructure upgrades are tied directly to anticipated residential growth, including new subdivisions on the west side of town and long-term expansion plans to the east.

“When you’re looking at two to four people in a unit, that’s quite an amount of growth,” she said.

“We need to accommodate all those things.”

The mayor said the municipality must have key infrastructure projects completed within the next 30 months to allow development to proceed, noting housing demand remains strong.

“We’re not talking just luxury,” MacDonald said.

“We’re looking at attainable, affordable so that it can accommodate folks of many socio-economic demographics.”

She acknowledged concerns about spillover traffic into residential neighbourhoods but said the municipality is installing additional signage and alternate routes to keep drivers on major roads.

“Absolutely,” she said, when asked if increased neighbourhood traffic is expected.

“We’re trying to offer alternate routes that still keep people on the bigger roads rather than taking them through smaller subdivisions.”

MacDonald said the Seacliff West roundabout project, supported by more than $3 million in funding, should be completed sooner, with only brief closures expected. However, she warned the east-side work will be a longer-term inconvenience.

“That stretch from the end of Danforth to County Road 33 — that’s going to be inconvenient for quite some time,” she said.

“We just need to get to that point.”

Construction on Seacliff Drive East is expected to continue through 2026.