Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program

About this project

The Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program (DTIRP) will  upgrade roads, sewers, and watermains, and improve 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.

Work like this doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years to study, engage with the community, plan for, and implement a renewal of municipal downtown infrastructure that will last for generations. 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 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’ve worked 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.

Stay informed

We’re committed to keeping you up to date with progress on the projects.

• Diggable Downlow: Your one stop for timely updates, upcoming events and feedback opportunities, and what’s on the horizon for the project. Feel free to leave the Project Team a question.
• Monthly construction cafes: On the third Thursday each month, join us for a coffee while sharing your thoughts and asking questions. Our location changes each month so check the link for this month’s location.
• Downtown Construction Office: Visit our office located at 42 Wyndham Street North, Suite 202 to ask questions and learn more about the project. Our Downtown Ambassador has open office hours on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Downtown Newsletter: A monthly newsletter that provides updates on everything happening Downtown, opportunities for engagement and updates on projects.

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.

• Next

Community engagement

In the fall of 2024, we engaged with businesses and the public on several Downtown projects. The goal was to provide a broad view of all of the work happening Downtown and to share the recommended construction sequencing phases, the recommended pace of construction, and the mitigations for residents and businesses. We received over 46 survey responses, and over 44 attendees at our open house 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

• Capital Implementation Plan
  • Completed 2022
• Wyndham Street North Environmental Assessment
  • Completed 2024
• Macdonell and Allan’s Structure Environmental Assessment
  • Address concerns raised through Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
  • In procurement process to retain final design consultant
• Design and Construction
  • Phase 0: Wellington Water and Wastewater Capacity Improvement
    • Completed: Q3 2025
  • Phase 1: Wyndham Street Reconstruction – Wellington to Woolwich
    • Utilities Relocations Q3 2025 to Q3 2026
    • Road Reconstruction Q2 2026 to Q3 2028
  • Phase 2: Macdonell St Corridor reconstruction – Norfolk to Elizabeth
    • Design Q2 2026 – Q4 2027
    • Construction 2028 – 2030

Project status and last quarter update

Planning phase

• The Notice of Completion was issued for the Macdonell and Allan’s Structures Environmental Assessment November 6, 2025
• Addressing request for additional information from Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

Design and Construction phase

• Electrical utilities relocation 95% completed on Wyndham St between Carden Street and Douglas Street. Relocation initiated on Wyndham St between Douglas and Woolwich 
• Phase 1: Wyndham Street Reconstruction: The first phase of the Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program was awarded and pre-construction coordination completed
  • Wyndham Street from Wellington St to Cork St closed March 30 to initiate construction with Macdonell intersection remaining open to cross traffic.
  • 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 boulevards and St. George’s Square will be rebuilt with updated streetscaping.
• Phase 2: Macdonell Corridor Reconstruction: Final design consultant procurement is underway

Additional project details

• Executive sponsors: Terry Gayman, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Infrastructure, Development and Environment
• Program manager: Reg Russwurm, Manager, Design and Construction, Engineering and Transportation Services
• Phase 0: Wellington Water and Wastewater Capacity Improvement approved budget: $2,686,971
• Phase 1: Wyndham Street Reconstruction approved budget: $42,465,740
• Phase 2: Macdonell Street Corridor Reconstruction approved budget: $6,192,140
• Target completion (planning phase only): Q4 2025
• Target completion Phase 1 construction: Q3 2028
• Target completion Phase 2 construction: Q4 2031

For more information

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