Emma Street to Earl Street active transportation bridge

About this project

The Emma to Earl active transportation bridge is one part of the overall improvements coming to Speedvale Avenue East. Council approved an active transportation bridge to connect Emma Street to Earl Street over the Speed River, for the following reasons:

• The bridge is recommended in the Guelph Trail Master Plan to provide a connection to the Downtown Trail
• It will provide an alternate pedestrian and cycling route over the Speed River
• The bridge will minimize the detour length for pedestrians and cyclists when the Speedvale Bridge is closed for upgrades

Community engagement

Thank you for providing your feedback about the two design options. Visit Have Your Say to read the engagement summary and find out which design the community has chosen.

Construction timeline

• Notice of Environmental Assessment Study Completion: August 2022
• Pre-design field work: Fall 2023
• Tree Clearing: Winter 2024
• Tender: Fall 2024
• Construction: Spring 2025

Project File Report

In August 2022, the City completed the environmental assessment and subsequently updated and finalized the project file as requested by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).

• Emma Street to Earl Street Bridge Environmental Assessment – Project File (August 2022)
• Emma St to Earl St Bridge Environmental Assessment – Combined Appendices A to G (August 2022)

Minister’s decision

In June 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks rendered its decision, approving the project and allowing the City to proceed with design and construction.

Resources

• Letter from Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (December 2020)
• Planning Recommendation Official Plan Amendment Memo Pedestrian Bridge
• Schedule B Class EA – Staff Report Emma Street to Earl Street Pedestrian Bridge
• Schedule B Class EA – COW Presentation
• Open house #1 (October 2016)
• Open house #2 (June 2017)

Alternate formats are available upon request in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Please contact Accessibility Services at [email protected] or by calling 519-822-1260 extension 2670 or TTY 519-826-9771.

For more information

Please contact us if you have questions or comments, or would like to be added to the project mailing list.

Jackie Kay, MBA, P.Eng., PMP, Project Engineer
Design and Construction, Engineering and Transportation Services
City of Guelph
519-822-1260, extension 2251
[email protected]

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.