Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Barrie is prioritizing road improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and adding active transportation options, with the ultimate goal of making it easier for residents to get around the city.
“One of Council’s main priorities is a significant investment in roads,” said Mayor Alex Nuttall. “This year, a total of $128 million will be invested in infrastructure improvements and new road construction projects in Barrie. We’re working on 16 road construction projects and paving 9.2 kilometres of roadways as part of the road resurfacing program.”
The major road construction projects happening in Barrie this year include:
Bryne Drive extension from Harvie Road to Caplan Avenue, which will support the new Harvie Road/Big Bay Point Road/Highway 400 crossing and will improve traffic flow across the south end. The south extension will be completed first.
- Relocation of sanitary sewers at the Cedar Pointe Drive, Edgehill, Dunlop and Hart Drive area, to prepare for the Dunlop bridge replacement project.
- Duckworth Street expansion to reconstruct the road and add a new watermain, sewer replacements, new sidewalks, new pavement, intersection upgrades, and bike lanes.
- Essa Road expansion and overpass, which will allow for easier highway access and safer pedestrian crossings.
- Sunnidale Road sewer and watermain relocation work to get ready for the bridge replacement.
- Road resurfacing projects, to proactively prevent deterioration and costly repairs.
Nuttall says the south portion of the Bryne Drive extension – a long-awaited project – should be completed sometime between late 2024 and mid-2025, with construction to extend the north portion to Essa Road beginning in 2026.
“I think it will alleviate some of the pressures on Veterans, on Essa, and certainly allow folks to get around more easily,” he said.