FAQs

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in August 2024 and be completed by late Fall 2024.

The construction season for road projects is very short due to our climate. Most activities require warm temperatures and dry weather. The project has been planned to start as late in the year as possible to minimize disruption during the busiest time of the year on Water Street, while still being able to complete the work during favourable weather for construction.

The rehabilitation of Water Street will be happening between Scugog Street (Hwy 7A) and Queen Street. The exact staging of activities at specific locations will be determined by the contractor.

The scope of work for the rehabilitation of Water Street includes the removal of both layers of asphalt, base repairs, sewer repairs, sidewalk and curb repairs, catch basin and manhole resets, and asphalt repaving. 

Additional works will include conversion of angle parking spaces to parallel parking spaces to accommodate a sidewalk on the east side of Water Street between Queen Street and Mary Street and bump outs at intersections. This new section of sidewalk will improve accessibility for pedestrians who currently walk along the slope of the hill beside the angled parking spots.

Bump outs, at the intersections of Mary Street and at Casmir Street, along with line painting, tactile plates and crosswalk signage will be installed to improve pedestrian accessibility and safety.

Bump outs, also known as curb extensions or bulb-outs, are traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures used to improve the streetscape and enhance safety for pedestrians. Bump outs will extend the sidewalk into the street at Mary Street and Casmir Street, similar to the existing bump outs on Queen Street in the downtown.

Bump outs reduce the distance pedestrians need to cross the street, making crossings shorter and safer. They increase visibility between pedestrians and drivers, which can reduce the likelihood of accidents. By narrowing the roadway at specific points, bump outs can also help to slow down vehicle speeds. 

Bump outs can improve accessibility for pedestrians, particularly those with mobility aids such as wheelchairs or strollers. The wider sidewalk space created by bump outs provides more room for pedestrians to maneuver and wait to cross the street.

A new sidewalk will be installed on the East side of Water Street between Mary Street and Queen Street. The existing angled parking will be converted to parallel parking to accommodate room for the sidewalk. Various bays of sidewalk will be also be replaced where needed.

Converting angled parking to parallel parking will reduce the number of spots in that location of Water Street, however, the overall parking spaces in the Water Street corridor will be maintained. This will be achieved with efficient use of the available space between obstacles such as fire hydrants, driveways, and bump outs.  

A full road closure has not been identified at this time. Vehicle access will be maintained to properties on Water Street during construction as reasonably practical. Temporary interruptions to driveway and parking lot access will be necessary at times, to allow for specific construction activities. Temporary interruptions to access will be communicated and coordinated with the affected property owners or occupants in advance. Please drive carefully and follow all the construction signage and traffic controls.

On-street parking in the construction zone will not be permitted. Please follow the temporary traffic controls and any flag persons for guidance within the construction zone. 

The Township of Scugog has several free downtown parking lots located near Water Street. On-street parking is permitted on other nearby streets. Please look for no parking signs to ensure parking isn’t prohibited and always follow the rules of the Highway Traffic Act and Scugog’s traffic by-law. More information on parking can be found on our Parking Page

Most of the work is occurring within the roadway, outside of the sidewalks. Pedestrian detour signage will be set up by the contractor for any sidewalks that are blocked. Please exercise caution when walking near construction.

Rehabilitation involves repairing and restoring the structural integrity of a road to extend its service life. It typically includes repairing the existing road surface, fixing any damage to the pavement layers, upgrading drainage systems if necessary, and improving the road's overall condition. Rehabilitation aims to address underlying structural issues while retaining as much of the existing infrastructure as possible.

While rehabilitation addresses structural issues to extend the life of a road, reconstruction involves completely rebuilding the road, often due to severe deterioration or the need for alignment changes. Revitalization focuses on enhancing the overall appearance of an area.

Road rehabilitation, when completed at the appropriate time, is an economical method of extending the lifecycle of a road. Reconstruction projects are vastly more expensive and take much longer to complete compared to rehabilitation projects. Revitalization often involves replacing or changing significant parts of the infrastructure for aesthetic purposes. When revitalization is completed at the same time as rehabilitation, it can often become similar in scope to a reconstruction project.