Construction Details and Detours

Stage 1 Summary

• Planned: March - early June, 2021
• Starts: First week of March 2021 

What's being done in stage 1

• Muskoka River Swing Bridge upgrades, bridge rehabilitation and repairs, new bridge driving surface
• Underground water and sewer infrastructure replacement on Main Street from the Muskoka River Swing Bridge to Brunel
• Underground water and sewer infrastructure replacement on River Street from High Street to Main Street
• New sidewalks, boulevards and parking spaces with streetscaping elements

Pedestrian access

Walking access to the downtown core will continue to be available.

Construction zone

• Construction will take place on Main Street from the Muskoka River Swing Bridge to Brunel Road
• Construction will take place on the Muskoka River Swing Bridge
• Construction will take place on River Street from High Street to Main Street
• Main Street from Brunel Road to West Street will be used for the storage of construction material purposes, and will be closed to traffic.

Road closures

• Main Street closed from the Muskoka River Swing Bridge to West Street (March 12 - end of May 2021)
• River Street closed from High Street to Main Street (March 10 - end of May 2021)

View the Road Closure Map.

Detours

Detour routes, directional arrows and warning signage will be installed in advance, before roads are closed. 

• Westbound and eastbound traffic will detour north of the construction area for Stage 1 – Chaffey Street and West Road and Centre Street
•  Traffic travelling north or south will be directed between Brunel Road and Centre Street, along Veterans Way

Stage 1 detour map

Stage 1 detour map with pedestrian crossing

Stage 1 detour map "zoomed in"

What's being done in stage 2

• Underground water and sewer infrastructure replacement on Main Street in the area from Brunel to West Street
• New sidewalks, boulevards and parking spaces with streetscaping elements
• King Street streetscaping
• Town Hall ramp

Pedestrian and boat access

• Walking access to the downtown core will continue to be available
• Pedestrian crossing will be available at the bridge
• Boat traffic can continue to pass under the bridge

Road closures

• Main Street closed from Brunel to Centre Street
• Active construction zone from Brunel to West Street
• King Street closed

Detours

Detour routes, directional arrows and warning signage will be installed in advance, before roads are closed. 

• Westbound and eastbound traffic will be directed south of the construction area onto Brunel Road, Veterans Way and Centre Street
• Traffic travelling north or south will be directed between Brunel Road and Centre Street, along Veterans Way
• River Street will remain closed to vehicular traffic

What's being done in stage 3

• Underground water and sewer infrastructure replacement on Main Street in the area from West Street to Lorne Street
• New sidewalks, boulevards and parking spaces with streetscaping elements
• In-Water bridge and headwall works within the Muskoka River

Pedestrian access

Walking access to the downtown core will continue to be available.

Road closures

• Main Street closed from West Street to Lorne Street
• River Street from High Street to Main Street

Detours

Detour routes, directional arrows and warning signage will be installed in advance, before roads are closed. 

• Eastbound traffic approaching the construction zone on Main Street will be directed south of the construction area onto Lorne Street, Minerva Street, Centre Street, Veterans Way, Brunel Road and back onto Main Street
• Westbound traffic approaching the construction zone on Main Street will be directed south of the construction area onto Brunel Road, Veterans Way, Centre Street, Caroline Street, Lorne Street and back onto Main Street
• Traffic travelling north or south will be directed between Brunel Road and Centre Street, along Veterans Way

What's being done in stage 4

• Underground water and sewer infrastructure replacement on Main Street in the area from Centre Street to Lorne Street.
• New sidewalks, boulevards and parking spaces with streetscaping elements.

Pedestrian access

Pedestrian access throughout the downtown core will be accessible at all times, and signage will be in place to help pedestrians reach their destinations.

Road closures

• Main Street West will remain closed from Lorne Street to Centre Street
• Caroline Street West continues as a one-way street in front of Huntsville Public School between Centre Street and Lorne Street

Businesses in the closure area will remain open and accessible at all times.

Detours

Stage 5

What's being done in Stage 5

• Underground water and sewer infrastructure replacement on Main Street is complete

• Final streetscape elements installed
• Sidewalks and curbs completed
• Preparation for final asphalt
• Overnight closure of Main Street from the bridge to Lorne Street for final lift of asphalt
• Quality assurance review

Road Closure with Final Lift of Asphalt:

The final lift of asphalt for Diggin’ Downtown will take place overnight on Monday, July 11, 2022 as well as overnight on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

On Monday, July 11 at 7:00pm, Main Street will be closed to traffic from Lorne Street to West Street and will reopen the next morning at 7:00am.

On Tuesday, July 12 at 7:00pm, Main Street will be closed from West Street to John Street including the downtown Swing Bridge and will reopen the next morning at 7:00am.

While this paving has been planned in the evening and overnight to mitigate impacts to travel, traffic in downtown and the surrounding areas will be impacted. Residents are asked to plan their travel in advance, follow detour signage and to use alternate routes.

Residents are also advised that the asphalt paving is weather dependent, and these dates could change.