February 2024 Update

As design work continues on this project, please see the updates below:

Updated renderings for road design

Refer to the “Updated Cross Section Renderings” in the Documents section on this page to view the road design at street level (attached to this email)

Impacts to private property

Some work is required on (or close to) private property to accommodate the new road layout. For example: tree trimming, moving hydro poles, driveway grading. Residents will be contacted individually in the coming weeks if there are impacts to their property.

Status of work with external agencies

• Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority – Permit review in progress
• Hydro One – Utility design in progress
• Bell Canada – Awaiting Hydro One utility design to confirm wires can be moved to new poles

Road design updates:

• Photometric assessment forthcoming to confirm streetlights will still illuminate road when poles are moved and will not have excessive light shining into homes.
• Fence style along top of retaining wall at Kettleby Camp (wood boardwalk to be removed)

• Driveways will remain the same width when new curbs are installed
• Replacing sidewalk with asphalt strip for snow storage (see below)

Replacing sidewalk with asphalt strip for snow storage

After considering resident comments and internal discussions with Operations/Engineering staff, the sidewalk has been removed from the design. Instead, a 1.0m asphalt strip will be added. The decision to remove the sidewalk was based on:

• Resident comments to maintain a historic appearance
• Overall constructability – The right-of-way along Kettleby Road is very narrow and adding the AODA-required 1.5m sidewalk would have significant disturbance to properties. It would also add significant disturbance to properties to blend into front yard drainage.
• Limited space for snow plowing – Given the narrow right-of-way and the width of an AODA sidewalk, there is very little buffer space between the road and sidewalk. Snowplows would push snow onto the sidewalk, then sidewalk plows would push the snow back on to the road. Otherwise, more snow would be pushed on to private property.
• Mitigate risk of winter slips/trips/falls – Pushing snow on to the sidewalk will lead to freeze-thaw cycle occurring directly on the sidewalk, increasing risk of pedestrians slipping on ice.
• Effective use of winter maintenance budget – Winter sidewalk snow removal on Kettleby Road is not in our current level of service, if we build a formal sidewalk then we are provincially obligated to clear the snow in winter. It is not financially prudent to provide sidewalk clearing, as provincially obligated, because it is separate from the rest of the sidewalk network.

Construction is expected to start in Summer 2024.

Staff welcome resident questions and will provide answers within 2 weeks from receipt of the question. Further updates and communications regarding construction impacts will be provided closer to the start of construction.