Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program

About this project

The Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program (DTIRP) aims to improve and upgrade roads, sewers, watermains, sidewalks, cycling facilities, and the streetscape in parts of the Downtown Secondary Plan area. The study area for this work is limited to the portion north of the Metrolinx railway tracks, plus Wyndham Street South to Wellington Street, and Wellington Street from Gordon Street to Neeve Street.

We have a great Downtown and we want to make it even more resilient, attractive, and welcoming for everyone of all abilities and ages using all modes of travel. It’s going to be somewhere all Guelphites can love, and where they’re excited to live, work and play.

Lovable. Coming soon: Even more reasons to love your Downtown. We have a vision for a vibrant, inclusive future Downtown Guelph.

 

However, work like this doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years to study, engage with the community, plan for, and implement a generational renewal of municipal downtown infrastructure. While that means construction and related disruptions, we’re committed to phasing and carrying out this work to minimize the impacts to people living in, working in, and visiting Downtown Guelph.

As we rebuild roads, we’ll also be modernizing the streetscape. With intentional and responsible planning, the infrastructure we build today will create the foundation for a vibrant Downtown Guelph for half a century or longer.

We’re committed to working with the Downtown community to plan and schedule this work in a way that limits the impact to daily life as much as possible. Together, we’ll create innovative solutions to keep our historic core thriving during construction.

This project is part of the overall Downtown Renewal Program to revitalize and transform Downtown Guelph for even more prosperity and well-being.

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Downtown Infrastructure Renewal projects

The Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program includes a number of projects that are integrated and coordinated to complete the overall program of work.
Phase 1: Wyndham Street North Reconstruction
Wyndham Street Municipal Class Environmental Assessment
Macdonell and Allan Structures Municipal Class Environmental Assessment
Wyndham-Wellington Water and Wastewater Capacity ImprovementDowntown Infrastructure Renewal documents

Latest updates

Implementation plan

The project team has developed a draft Capital Implementation Plan that will be presented at an open house this fall.

This sequence of construction was determined with the following factors and considerations:

  • Economic development and capacity for growth: Does the street provide for additional housing and room for growth? Does it support planned density increase in Downtown?
  • Watermain, sanitary, and stormwater needs: What is the age and condition of infrastructure? Are there capacity deficiencies?
  • Utility needs: Are there third-party utility upgrades planned for the street?
  • Transportation and traffic management: How will construction impact traffic flow? How many transit routes are on the street?
  • Construction costs: How do construction costs affect the City’s capital budget?
  • Construction constraints: Are there special needs that may affect construction (e.g., additional time to acquire permits)?
  • Road needs: What is the current condition of the pavement? How urgently does traffic capacity need to be addressed?

Construction impacts and mitigation:

The impact of construction and potential mitigations have also been considered as part of the implementation plan. Things essential for consideration in the implementation plan include:

  • Maintaining access to businesses,
  • Accommodating deliveries and emergency services,
  • Pedestrian safety, and
  • Traffic detours.

We’re considering the various ways we can support businesses and community members as much as possible during construction.

Community engagement

In March and April 2024, we engaged with businesses and the public on options for the pace of construction (fast vs. slow) that’s set to begin in 2026. We heard from the community through our online Have Your Say survey, a public open house, and door-to-door business canvassing along Wyndham Street North corridor (a.k.a. the Phase 1 area). We received over 200 survey responses, and over 60 attendees at our open house during this engagement period.

We’ve released an updated Capital Implementation Plan, that incorporates what we heard from the community during this engagement period.

Visit Have Your Say to learn more about past, current and upcoming engagement activities to share your feedback with us.

Timelines

  • Preparatory stage: Q2 2021 to Q1 2022
  • Review existing conditions and develop problems and opportunities: Q2 to Q3 2022
  • Develop alternatives to address the problems and opportunities: Q4 2022 to Q2 2025
  • Develop study recommendations: Q2 2024 to Q2 2025
  • Prepare project documentation: Q2 2024 to Q3 2025
  • Commence construction
    • Q2 2025: Wyndham-Wellington Water and Wastewater Capacity Improvement
    • Q2 2026: Wyndham St North Reconstruction – Phase 1 – Farquhar to Woolwich

Project status and last quarter update

Within revised scope

On revised schedule

Within revised budget

Planning Phase

  • In Q3 2024, continues to advance the Macdonell and Allans Structures Environmental Assessment and the Capital Implementation Plan.
  • Ward to Downtown Pedestrian Bridge has been added to the Macdonell and Allans Structure Environmental Assessment that has affected the project delivery schedule
  • Council approved Staff report June 2024 related to expediating construction and the level of service for streetscape
  • Staff conducted a Public Information Centre (or open house) October 2, 2024 to gain community input on the overall program construction phasing, listen to concerns regarding construction disruption, and what construction mitigations could be considered.
  • Community engagement and consultation will continue and be enhanced for the overall Capital Implementation Plan throughout 2024 into 2025

Construction Phase

  • Internal design has commenced on a project to increase water and wastewater trunk capacity Improvements along Wyndham Street S (Farquhar to Wellington) and Wellington Street (Wyndham to Gordon) with construction to commence 2025.
  • External design has commenced for Wyndham St North Reconstruction – Phase 1 – Farquhar to Woolwich for construction start 2026.

Study area

The primary study area is north of the railway tracks that cross Gordon Street at Waterloo Avenue, plus Wyndham Street South to Wellington Street and Wellington Street from Gordon Street to Neeve Street.

Key streets include:

  • Quebec Street from Wyndham Street North to Norfolk Street
  • Wyndham Street from Carden Street to Woolwich Street
  • Macdonell Street from Norfolk Street to Carden Street
  • Woolwich Street from Macdonell Street to Norfolk Street
  • Macdonell Street and Allan’s Dam structures over the Speed River
  • Wyndham Street South to Wellington Street
  • Wellington Street from Gordon Street to Neeve Street
Map of study area

Planning Phase

Capital Implementation Plan and environmental assessments

As part of this program of work, the City is undertaking a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Macdonell Street bridge and Allans Dams structures, and completed an EA process for Wyndham Street (initiated as an EA; now exempt). The City is now developing an overall Capital Implementation Plan for this work. The Report is expected to be completed late 2024 with presentation to Council Q1 2025.

EAs include technical studies and engagement with community to support decision-making for large projects. The EAs are being completed in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process as described in the Environmental Assessment Act. The EAs for this program of work will inform decisions about how the work gets done and what’s included.

  • Wyndham Street EA: this project was initiated as a Schedule “B” Municipal Class EA in January 2021, and is now being completed as an EA-exempt project in accordance with the Municipal Class EA (October 2000, amended in 2007, 2011, 2015). The project reviews the function of Wyndham Street North for all users to determine how the road should be redesigned including the number of traffic lanes, active transportation options, and the layout of the Wyndham Street and Quebec Street intersection (St. George’s Square).
  • Macdonell Street bridge and Allans Dam structures EA: this EA will confirm what improvements are needed to address structural deficiencies and improve road safety for the required improvements and the preferred solution for the Macdonell Street bridge, the Allans Dam bridge, the Allans Dam spillway and sluiceway. Recently, The Wards to Downtown Pedestrian Bridge has been added to the scope of work.

The City presented the preferred option for the Wyndham Street EA in February 2024 to Council, which was approved, and expects to present the preferred option for the Macdonell and Allans structures EA to Council in Q2 2025.

Construction Phase

  • Wyndham-Wellington Water and Wastewater Capacity Improvement: this project (construction 2025) will allow the City to alleviate capacity restrictions in overburdened infrastructure and open development opportunities within Downtown Guelph, south of the Metrolinx railway corridor. The work will include the replacement of the watermain and sanitary sewer on Wellington Street East from Gordon Street to Wyndham Street South, and the replacement of the sanitary sewer on Wyndham Street South from Wellington Street East to Farquhar Street.
  • Phase 1: Wyndham Street North Reconstruction: is the first phase of detailed design and construction project in the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program. This project (construction 2026) was informed by the Wyndham Street Environmental Assessment (EA) and is the first phase identified in the upcoming Capital Implementation Plan (which outlines the construction sequencing).The work will focus on the reconstruction of Wyndham Street North corridor, from approximately Farquhar Street to Woolwich Street. During construction:
    • All underground municipal utilities will be replaced and upgraded,
    • The road surface will be rebuilt to the cross-section that was determined in the Wyndham Street EA, and
    • The surface will be replaced with updated streetscaping.

Additional project details

  • Executive sponsors: Jayne Holmes, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
  • Program manager: Reg Russwurm, Manager, Design and Construction, Engineering and Transportation Services
  • Planning phase approved budget: $2,996,218
  • Wyndham-Wellington Water and Wastewater Capacity Improvement approved budget (design): $662,300
  • Phase 1: Wyndham Street North Reconstruction approved budget (design): $2,375,740
  • Funding sources: 32 per cent grants and subsidies, 12 per cent tax reserves, 47 per cent rate reserves, 9% development charges
  • Target completion (planning phase only): Q3 2025

For more information

Reg Russwurm, Manager, Design and Construction
Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2765
[email protected]