Victoria Road, Stone Road and Structure 116 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study

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Project overview

Guelph is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. Based on recommendations in the 2022 Transportation Master Plan and the Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan, upgrades are needed to several key roads in Guelph to support new neighbourhoods planned in the Guelph Innovation District. We’re studying how to design the roads and bridges people will rely on as part of their everyday lives, including widening two arterial roads.

This project includes a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) for Victoria Road South, from York Road to Stone Road; Stone Road East, from Victoria Road South to Watson Parkway South; and Structure 116, commonly known as McQuillan’s Bridge.

In addition to the MCEA, the study will include preliminary design of several key pieces of underground infrastructure which will support new neighbourhoods, such as sanitary sewers and watermains.

With public input, the study will identify and recommend:

A preferred solution and preliminary design for McQuillan’s Bridge (Structure 116, Eramosa River);
A preferred solution and preliminary design for improvements to Victoria Road South, including road bridge Structure 115 (Eramosa River) and safe trail crossings; and,
A preferred solution and preliminary design for improvements to Stone Road East, including road bridge Structure 117 (Eramosa River).

The study areas are outlined in Figure 1 below:

The process

A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) is a process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act for planning and implementing municipal infrastructure projects.

The study is being completed in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (October 2000, amended in 2024).

The study of Stone Road East and Victoria Road South will follow the planning and design processes for schedule “C” road projects. Phases 1 and 2 of the MCEA were completed as part of the 2022 Transportation Master Plan.

The study for Structure 116 (McQuillan’s Bridge) will follow the planning and design processes for schedule “B” bridge projects to determine the preferred solution for the bridge.

In developing recommendations, the study will consider technical, economic, cultural heritage, social and natural environmental factors.

Public, First Nations and technical agency consultation will be fundamental in developing the study recommendations. The City will host open houses to provide detailed project information to residents and interest holders. Open house notices and materials will be posted in the sections below when available.

Project background

This project will respond to the recommendations in the Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan (Official Plan Amendment 54 ) and the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), and will inform the City’s preferred solution for McQuillan’s Bridge.

Guelph Innovation District (GID)

Official Plan Amendment 54 (OPA 54) was approved by City Council in May 2014 and came into effect in August 2017. OPA 54 identified the need to improve Victoria Road South and Stone Road East to accommodate traffic generated by development of the Guelph Innovation District (GID). In addition, Official Plan Amendment 80 was approved by City Council in July 2022 and approved with amendments by the Minister in April 2023. OPA 80 increased population and employment targets and designated a Strategic Growth Area within the GID. Development application processes have begun for Blocks 1, 2 and 3 of the GID.

Transportation Network Improvements

In 2022, the City completed the Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which was completed as a Schedule “B” Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. The Capital Implementation Plan for the TMP outlined the following projects:

Victoria Road from York Road to Eramosa River – widen from 4 lanes to 5 lanes, add all ages and abilities cycling facilities.
Victoria Road from Eramosa River to Stone Road – widen from 2 lanes to 4 lanes, add all ages and abilities cycling facilities from Eramosa River to College Avenue only.
Stone Road from Victoria Road to Watson Parkway – widen from 2 lanes to 4 lanes.

The TMP also identified other improvements within these corridors, including sidewalk improvements, upgrading cycling facilities and protecting for future transit priority measures.

McQuillan’s Bridge (Structure 116)

McQuillan’s Bridge (Structure 116) – also known as the Stone Road East Bow Truss Bridge – is a former vehicle bridge that was repurposed as a pedestrian bridge in 2005 when Stone Road East was realigned.

Originally constructed in 1916, McQuillan’s Bridge is a designated heritage property and is considered a significant cultural heritage resource in the City of Guelph.

The City closed McQuillan’s Bridge in January 2025 because a routine structural condition assessment determined the bridge was no longer able to support public use. The Environmental Assessment will consider alternative solutions to address the bridge’s deterioration and opportunities to integrate heritage conservation with technical, economic, social and natural environmental factors.

How can I get involved?

Join us at our second Public Open House. It’s on February 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Royal Canadian Legion (57 Watson Parkway South). Get the details here. Can’t attend in person? Share your feedback online on Have Your Say.

Resources and documents

Documents for this project will be added here as they become available.

Notices

For more information

Please contact one of our project team members if you have questions or comments, or would like to be added to the project mailing list.

Kate Berry
Project Manager, Transportation Planning
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 4177
[email protected]

Ray Bacquie
Consultant Project Manager 
R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited 
1-800-265-9662
[email protected]