Demolition of buildings in the way of LRT will begin as early as this summer — but don't expect to see a lot of shovels in the ground before 2021.

The 14-kilometre, $1-billion light trail transit project went to tender in April 2018 and was originally slated to start early construction this year.

But the new Progressive Conservative government froze project spending on land for nine months — spurring fears the LRT would fall victim to budget cuts — before pronouncing the project "good to go forward" in April.

The delay gives shortlisted consortiums until spring 2020 to submit bids to design, build and run the lower city LRT line between McMaster University and Eastgate Square, a city update says.

That means a building contract award late in 2020 and likely no "major" construction before 2021, said city LRT lead Kris Jacobson.

Still, residents should expect to see some big changes along the route this year — like demolition of some of the 58-and-counting buildings bought by Metrolinx to make room for LRT in the Main-King corridor.

Metrolinx hopes to reach agreements with willing sellers for 90 buildings along the route — but if not, expropriations may begin later this year, too. The provincial agency has already relocated 43 of 66 tenants from those buildings.

Residents will also see "early works" related to relocating utilities, water and sewer pipes this year or next.

For example, Jacobson said the city plans to replace "complex" water main sections under intersections — like King Street and Sherman Avenue and King and Wentworth Street — in 2020. Alectra Utilities will also start to move some service lines or equipment out of the corridor.

If you're impatient to see how a new LRT actually looks and operates, the repeatedly delayed Kitchener-Waterloo Ion light rail line is supposed to start running June 21.

The LRT update report goes to councillors Wednesday at general issues committee.

mvandongen@thespec.com

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