All land purchased for new Highway 7

GUELPH — Properties the province needs to construct the new Highway 7 between Guelph and Kitchener have been purchased.

“However, we have agreements with several former property owners and tenants to stay longer in their buildings on a case-bycase basis, and where it won’t impact the construction schedule,” Ministry of Transportation communications co-ordinator Liane Fisher wrote Wednesday in an email. About $70 million was expected to be spent acquiring 87 properties.

Once work begins, the new 18-kilometre highway corridor is expected to take five construction seasons to finish.

Fisher said Wednesday advance construction begins shortly in Kitchener, including widening the Guelph Street bridge. Guelph Street will be closed under Highway 85, the north-south express- way, between the middle of May and beginning of October. Utility relocations at Victoria Street are to be done between the fall and 2016.

Shirley Avenue is to be extended next year, with lane reductions planned.

In Guelph, the ministry needed to accumulate land to extend the Hanlon Parkway north so it can link with a new Highway 7 connecting to Kitchener’s east side.

One of the affected properties is Royal City Nursery on Woodlawn Road. It has relocated about 60 metres and had its grand opening Wednesday.

Having the property expropriated puts to an end to speculation over redevelopment of the highway link, so the nursery and other property owners can get on with their lives.

“Ultimately, to me it’s sad,” said Tanya Olsen, whose family has run the nursery for three generations. But the relocation opens up opportunities for growth and expansion, which intrigues her.

“I’m really excited by the opportunity.”

Royal City Nursery was founded in 1962 by John and Elsebeth Olsen. Son Peter and his spouse, Doreen, took over in 1986. Daughters Tanya Olsen, operations manager, and Leah Olsen-Kent, floral manager, later came on board.

With Tanya now taking the helm at the new site at 305 Woodlawn Rd. W., Leah is opening her own floral shop, called “Fleuristic,” at 739 Woolwich St.

“We are not closing; we have moved literally 200 feet to the west,” Tanya Olsen said of the leased space. She’s expanding into specialized services such as pruning, but not lawn care.

While her parents are spending more time with family, they’ll still continue to play a role at Royal City Nursery, she added.