Revamped Argyle Street opens this week with street party

After months of construction woes and a “rough summer” for local businesses on Argyle and Grafton streets — the end is in sight.

A street party running from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday will mark the official unveiling of the new streetscape.  Mayor Mike Savage and other officials will be on hand at 11 a.m. for the start of the ceremonies. Savage will tap in the last paving stone at the intersection of Argyle and Blowers streets.

READ MORE: ‘Rough summer’: Small Halifax business welcomes end of construction of streetscape project

After several weeks of construction delays, Grafton Street was reopened to vehicles on October 20 and Argyle Street will be reopened to vehicles on Tuesday evening.

WATCH: Where the streetscapes have a name. Argyle & Grafton ready to launch.

5:57 Where the streetscapes have a name. Argyle & Grafton ready to launch.

The revamped streets are designed to be more pedestrian friendly. They include space for all-season patios and there will be no standard street parking on either of the streets, according to an advisory from the city.

But there will still be drop-off and loading zones and accessible parking.

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The streets are being transformed into an urban plaza, that includes the separation of the streets into two zones.

READ MORE: Halifax businesses raise alarm over timing of Argyle and Grafton streetscape project

One zone is for pedestrians only, the other zone is for all modes of transportation and the zones are separated by a rumble strip.

The short-term pain of construction created headaches for some small businesses like Philip Holman’s, World Tea House.

“The impact for here was pretty harsh this summer, we almost went out of business,” he told Global News on Thursday.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The impact for here was pretty harsh this summer, we almost went out of business," he told Global News on Thursday.

Holman said he’s looking forward to the project finally being finished.

-With files from Alexa MacLean.