FERGUS — Big changes are coming to Colborne Street in 2025.
Presented by the township's director of infrastructure Colin Baker at a Centre Wellington council meeting Tuesday afternoon, council has approved recommendations to contribute $1,569,000 to fund non-growth related costs associated with a reconstruction project on Colborne Street.
Intended to connect the realigned Colborne Street within the Storybrook subdivision to "eliminate the sharp curves that currently exist," staff said the project will ensure Colborne can provide "appropriate levels of service" to the development's third phase.
"The planned improvements for Colborne Street include converting the existing road from a rural cross-section to an urban cross-section that suits its status as a major urban collector road and provides for active transportation improvements," said staff in the report.
Planned on Colborne St. from Beatty Line to 120m west of the Storybrook subdivision's westerly limit, staff said design improvements will include new curbs, gutters, storm sewers, sidewalks and a water main extension.
To cost $5.73 million total, the developer is on the hook for $4.161 million- split between the project's growth-related costs and a local service cost. The township's contribution will come from the 2025 capital budget.
When asked how the construction will impact emergency services at the meeting, Baker said no delays are anticipated.
The township has applied for the Housing Enabling Core Serving Grant to help offset the project’s construction costs.
Staff said the project will be tendered once the township learns whether its grant application is successful.
Construction is scheduled for 2025.
Once completed, the existing Colborne Street alignment will be blocked up and closed with access maintained to some existing and "significant" Bell infrastructure.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
