Wednesday, August 27, 2025
On August 21st, important construction began in Ivey Park and Mitchell A Baran Park to improve London’s sewer infrastructure and enable more growth and housing opportunities in the downtown.
On-site preparations will begin for the Downtown Sewer Capacity Expansion project that will build a new sanitary sewer siphon beneath the Forks of the Thames River. These upgrades will replace the original pipe constructed through the parks and under the river in 1934 significantly increasing the sewer’s capacity as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to improve our infrastructure for the future.
During construction, both Ivey Park and Mitchell A Baran Park will be closed to the public. Portions of the Thames Valley Parkway will also be temporarily closed, with detour routes in place.
Signage will be installed to help guide pedestrians and cyclists safely around the work area. A safe and accessible path for people walking or riding their bikes will be maintained where possible.
Near the parks, Municipal Parking Lot 11 will also be closed for the duration of construction. The north side of Municipal Lot 17 will also be closed, while the south side of the parking lot will remain open for public use.
About the London Downtown Sewer Capacity Expansion project
This work includes building a new sanitary sewer siphon beneath the Thames River, decommissioning the existing siphon, and restoring disturbed areas. These upgrades are part of the City’s effort to expand downtown sewer capacity and improve long-term system performance.
Later this year, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority will also begin a separate project in the area to reconstruct part of the West London Dyke starting at Cavendish Park and working east through Riverside Park and Mitchell A Baran Park. This project will include extending the Thames Valley Parkway from the Forks to Cavendish Park. Final restoration of these parks will be completed after the construction of the dyke.
