Construction crews work on phase II of Dundas Place between Wellington Street and Richmond Street, September 11, 2019. (Photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)

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A construction project that has transformed a section of Dundas Street in downtown London will officially finish on Monday afternoon.

An event will be held to mark the ceremonial laying of the final brick on Dundas Place and the completion of the $16-million project. Mayor Ed Holder will be joined by the construction project team and members of the Dundas Place community for the event at 2 p.m.

The second phase of Dundas Place, the city’s first pedestrian-friendly, four-block flex street, began on March 18. Yanchula, the city’s manager of downtown projects, said he’s pleased to see the project reaching its completion.

“I think everybody, whether the people building it or the people who have been around the area where it’s being built, are breathing heavy sigh of relief,” he said. “We’re relieved to see that the proverbial icing on the cake.”

The project has not been without controversy. Some business owners have expressed frustration with the impact of construction on their bottom lines. Yanchula understands those concerns and says this project has been a test of the city’s ability to communicate with business owners.

“We’ve all weathered the storm together,” he said. “This is a community effort. The city has really tried to reach out and do it’s part by even having the Core Construction Communications Program. We’ve never had that before, being able to have regular information passed off in a most timely manner to the people it most affects, be they motorists, be they the businesses along the streets. That’s a new thing for us and we’re happy with the result because we know we’re better connected than we ever have been.”

While Monday’s afternoon’s event will mark the ceremonial end of construction, there will be some finishing touches put on after the winter. Yanchula says that’s when Londoners will really see the benefits of the flex street.