We have a great downtown and want it to stay that way for years to come. Today, we have aging water and sewer pipes, roads and sidewalks that must be replaced. Our goal is to improve this critical infrastructure to provide quality service and support the vitality of our downtown core. Work like this doesn’t happen overnight, it takes years to research, engage with the community, plan and implement. And yes, that means construction but we’re not doing all the work at once. We’re working with the downtown community to determine a schedule that limits the impact to daily life as much as possible. This construction will replace and improve our aging infrastructure and upgrade utility services, and before we put the roads back together, we will have an opportunity to modernize and upgrade the streetscape.
This important project will improve our downtown for all businesses, residents, users and visitors. Let’s work together to make our downtown even better.
Latest updates
-
Downtown Update – December 2022
December 21, 2022 -
Downtown Update – November 2022
November 25, 2022 -
Public notice: Downtown Update – October 2022
October 7, 2022
Study area
The primary study area is located north of the railway tracks. Key streets include:
- Baker Street from Quebec Street to Woolwich Street
- 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
Community engagement
The success of the Downtown Renewal Project depends on quality, ongoing community engagement during plan development and throughout construction.
We plan to work closely with our downtown community to plan construction phases with many opportunities to provide input and feedback.
Project approach and timeline
- 2021: Start project planning
- August 2021: start community engagement
- 2021 to 2024: Capital Implementation Plan (CIP) and Environmental Assessments (EA) of the Macdonell Street (Allan) Bridge and Wyndham Street
- 2025: detailed design commences
- 2026: anticipated start of construction
Depending on the pace, construction will last eight to 10 years.
Tier 1 project supporting Guelph’s Strategic Plan
The Downtown Renewal work is managed as a Tier 1 City project. Tier 1 projects are the City’s most complicated and high-value projects.
This project aligns with both the Building our future and the Powering our future priorities in the City’s Strategic Plan by maintain existing community infrastructure assets and developing new ones as well as fostering downtown business innovation to support a thriving downtown Guelph. This work also supports the Community Plan by ensuring our downtown continues to grow as a destination hub of historic beauty and character, with unique retail opportunities, entertainment and tourist attractions.
Resources
- Downtown Servicing Study Final Report 2021
- Downtown Servicing Study_Appendix 2021
- Downtown Guelph Project: August 9, 2021 virtual presentation
- 2014 Streetscape Manual
Quarterly updates
2022
- Q3 project update, October 2022
- Q2 project update, July 2022
- Q1 2022 project update, April 2022
2021
- Q4 project update, December 2021
- Q3 project update, September 2021
- Q2 project update, July 2021
- Q1 2021 project update, April 2021
For more information
Reg Russwurm, Manager, Design and Construction
Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2765
[email protected]