THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay’s downtown has added more patio space as a new section of Cumberland Street is temporarily converted to a one-way street.
Cumberland will be closed Thursday between Red River Road and Van Norman Street as city workers complete line painting.
The section will open to southbound-only traffic when work is complete, expected this afternoon, and remain one-way until the end of patio season.
The change is being piloted as part of the city’s Reimagining the North Core Streetscapes project, which is exploring ways to expand patio and vendor space and calm traffic in the downtown core.
City planners have called the project a “once in a lifetime” chance to reshape the downtown.
A new array of 20 angle parking spots has also been added on the west side of the block, while parallel parking will remain on the east side. Four of the angle parking spots are accessible.