A busy coffee shop and the last gas station in Kingston’s downtown core closed for good at the beginning of the new year.

The Shell station and the Tim Hortons at 285 Ontario St. are currently being demolished by the property owner to make way for the expansion of the Wolfe Island ferry dock and a possible deepwater dock for cruise ships.

“The property owner is demolishing the building under agreement with MTO,” Brandy Duhaime of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario wrote in an email. “We want to begin construction on the new ferry dock this year, which is why we have asked the property owner to complete the demolition before March 1, 2020.”

MTO is not disclosing the purchase price of the property.

The demolition is expected to help with the flow of traffic, allow Queen Street to be extended below Ontario Street, and also allow a left-hand turn south from Ontario Street into the ferry dock property.

It’s expected that the ministry will award the contract to build the new ferry dock later this year.

The ferry dock property, as well as new buildings and other infrastructure, should take about two years to construct.

According to an artist’s rendering released in 2018, the dock area will feature three lanes for exiting the ferry, instead of the current two lanes; the demolition of the current ferry terminal, which was built in the 1990s; and the construction of a new terminal building closer to the water.

The new dock is expected to be able to accommodate the current Wolfe Islander III ferry and a new one that can carry 75 vehicles.

The project also includes making improvements to existing terminals, including changes to the marshalling areas, enlarging dock/mooring facilities, and improving pedestrian and cycling facilities at Marysville and Barrack Street. There will be no changes to these areas at Dawson Point.

imacalpine@postmedia.com

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