Ontario Street Grand Bend Construction

About the Project

The construction project taking place along the Ontario Street North corridor in Grand Bend aims at reducing congestion and improving traffic flow through Grand Bend.

Improvements to the Ontario Street North corridor were identified through the Ministry of Transportation's Class Environmental Assessment, which determined that the current intersection and traffic signalization was insufficient to handle the traffic volumes that occur during peak periods.

The construction project consists of two phases:

  • The first phase of the project was the Ontario Street North Reconstruction and involved the completion of important utility replacements within the corridor
  • The second phase of the project is the replacement and widening of the Ontario Street bridge, which will address the ongoing traffic congestion problems along the Ontario Street corridor in Grand Bend
Ontario Street North Grand Bend Corridor construction project
Project Timeline

The first phase of the project is now complete.

The second phase of the construction project (bridge replacement and widening) is scheduled to begin September 2024. This phase is expected to take two years to complete. Construction will pause during summer seasons.

Like all construction projects, delays are expected during peak construction periods. The project team is committed to providing ongoing communication about the project to alleviate the impact of construction as much as possible.

Project Funding

In 2019, the Municipality of Lambton Shores received $1,075,651 from Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Following this funding announcement, the Ontario government announced further funding in 2021 through the Connecting Links Program, which provides funding for the design, construction, renewal, rehabilitation, and replacement of municipal roads and bridges. As part of that funding announcement, the Municipality of Lambton Shores will receive up to $4,853,952 in funding to support the replacement and widening of the Ontario Street bridge in Grand Bend.

A look at what's to come...

Rendering: Lane Configurations

The addition of traffic lanes will help relieve traffic congestion at the intersection of Highway 21 (Ontario Street) and Main Street, especially during the increased traffic in the summer months.

Rendering: Multi-Use Path

With a focus on active transportation and walkability, the project will include the addition of multi-use paths on either side of Ontario Street.

Support Local Business

Local businesses operating year-round in the area are still open and need our support. Whether you live, work, or visit the area, your support for local business goes a long way - especially during a construction project of this scale.


Updates from the Project Team

2023 Project Updates
Spring Update 5: Friday, June 16, 2023

Due to inclement weather delays, surface paving operations on Ontario Street North and connecting side streets may extend early into the week of June 19th. Crews will also continue to work on topsoil and sod work, among other various cleanup activities. Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Traffic Impacts: Lane reductions on Ontario Street North and adjacent side streets can be expected

Spring Update 4: Friday, June 9, 2023

Surface paving operations on both Oak Street and Ontario Street North will continue the week of June 12 and are expected be completed by the end of the week (weather dependent). Crews are also expected to be working on topsoil and sod work, among other various cleanup activities.

Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Traffic Impacts: Intersection and lane reductions on both Oak Street and Ontario Street North can be expected, with the primary impact expected at the intersection of Main Street East at Ontario Street North.

Spring Update 3: Friday, June 2, 2023

Surface paving operations on both Oak Street and Ontario Street North are set to begin the week of June 5 and last approximately one week (weather dependent). Crews are also expected to be working on topsoil and sod work, among other various cleanup activities. Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Traffic Impacts: Intersection and lane reductions on both Oak Street and Ontario Street North can be expected, with the primary impact expected at the intersection of Main Street East at Ontario Street North.

Spring Update 2: Friday, May 19, 2023

Surface work continues on Ontario Street North with crews working on restoration and other remaining works. Underground and grading works will continue on Oak Street as the overall project progresses towards surface paving. Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Traffic Impacts: Minor localized lane reductions on Ontario Street North can be expected, and road closure with localized access only on Oak Street will continue. 

Spring Update 1: Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Work has recently restarted on Ontario Street North with crews working on restoration and other remaining works. Work on Oak Street is anticipated to start in early May 2023 and be completed in late May 2023, with construction notification provided under separate cover for this work. Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Traffic Impacts: Minor localized lane reductions on Ontario Street North can be expected as crews progress with remaining surface and underground works. Indian Road will be closed on May 5, 2023, as paving will be undertaken to restore areas disturbed during construction. Applicable closure and detour signage will be setup and maintained throughout the duration of the closure.

Oak Street Improvements

The Municipality of Lambton Shores is undertaking a construction project on Oak Street between Queens Avenue and Ontario Street North

View the Public Notice

Phase 1 Project Updates
Final Fall Update: Friday, December 24, 2022

The project team is happy to announce the completion of work within Grand Bend for 2022. There is some restoration work remaining, which will take place as soon as weather allows in the spring. There is also work to be completed on Oak Street, which will also take place in the spring.

Crews will be taking a couple weeks off from work and the project will resume north of Grand Bend (within the Municipality of South Huron) to install the trunk sanitary sewer in January.

As we look ahead to 2023, we look forward to working on more big projects, including the Ontario Street Bridge Replacement/Widening Project. Details about this project will be shared on this page - you can also subscribe to receive email updates.

We want to thank all residents, businesses, and visitors to Grand Bend for their patience and understanding during the project this year. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season

Fall Update 13: Friday, December 9, 2022

Work continues to progress on the Ontario Street North Reconstruction project. Crews are working hard to wrap up work within Grand Bend. Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Week of December 5th work completed: Watermain connections and service connections, curbs and sidewalks, asphalt paving.

Week of December 12th work planned: Asphalt driveways and restoration.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – Lane reductions north of Municipal Drive.

Fall Update 12: Monday, November 28, 2022

Work continues to progress on the Ontario Street North Reconstruction project. Please exercise caution in construction areas and obey all signage.

Week of November 21st work completed: West side services and Road excavation.

Week of November 28th work planned: Road excavation, west side services, Watermain testing, curbs on west side of Ontario Street.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – Lane reductions north of Municipal Drive

Fall Update 11: Friday, November 18, 2022

Snow has not slowed down work on the Ontario Street North Construction project. However, with these conditions please continue to drive slowly and carefully in and around construction areas and obey all signage for the safety of everyone.

Week of November 14th work completed: Paving on Ontario street and west side services.

Week of November 21st work planned: West side services, watermain testing, road excavation and granular placement on west side of Ontario Street.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – Lane reductions north of Municipal Drive

Fall Update 10: Friday, November 4, 2022

Construction continues in Grand Bend as we enter November. Underground works are getting closer to completion. Due to Ministry of Transportation standards, next week there will be alternating single lane of traffic at the north limit of Grand Bend into South Huron. Please be patient and obey traffic signage during this period. Your patience and cooperation is appreciated.

Week of October 31st work completed: Watermain and east side services (water, storm) work on Ontario Street North, road excavation, granular placement and preparation for concrete and asphalt works.

Week of November 7th work planned: Sanitary sewer on Ontario Street at North Limit of Grand Bend, continue on road excavation and granular placement, concrete sidewalk installation (Municipal Drive to Village Gate), curb and gutter installation (Village Gate to North Limits), east side service installations from Main St. to Oak St.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – Lane reductions north of Municipal Drive. ALTERNATING SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC NORTH OF OAK STREET FROM NOVEMBER 7th to NOVEMBER 11th

Fall Update 9: Friday, October 28, 2022

Dry weather this week has helped construction crews move ahead on the Ontario Street North Reconstruction project. The project team wishes to thank area residents and businesses for their cooperation and patience during the project and asks the public to continue to obey all signage and exercise caution in and around the construction site.

Week of October 24th work completed: Storm sewer work on Ontario Street North, watermain and east side services (water, storm) on Ontario Street and road building.

Week of October 31st work planned: Watermain and east side services (water, storm) work on Ontario Street North, road excavation, granular placement and preparation for concrete and asphalt works.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – lane reductions on Ontario Street north of Municipal Drive 

Fall Update 8: Friday, October 21, 2022

Wet weather slowed progress this week on the Ontario Street North reconstruction project. The forecast looks better for next week and work will be moving ahead again. Please continue to obey construction signage and exercise caution in construction zones.

Week of October 17th work completed: Storm sewer work on Ontario Street North and road work preparation.

Week of October 24th work planned: Storm sewer work on Ontario Street North, watermain work on Ontario Street North, and road works.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – lane reductions on Ontario Street north of Village Gate Crescent 

Fall Update 7: Monday, October 17, 2022

Colder weather has started showing up but the Ontario Street Reconstruction project keeps moving forward. The project team asks the public to please continue exercising caution in and around construction areas.

Week of October 10th work completed: Storm sewer work on Ontario Street North and road work preparation.

Week of October 17th work planned: Storm sewer work on Ontario Street North, watermain work on Ontario Street North, and road works.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – lane reductions on Ontario Street north of Village Gate Crescent

Fall Update 6: Friday, October 7, 2022

We wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving long weekend. Construction in Grand Bend continues to make progress and we thank everyone for their patience during this project.

Week of October 3rd work completed: Trunk Sanitary Sewer on Ontario Street and Sanitary jack and bore receiving pit in South Huron.

Week of October 10th work planned: Storm sewer installation north of Village Gate Crescent.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North – lane reductions on Ontario Street north of Village Gate Crescent 

Fall Update 5: Friday, September 30, 2022

Many observers have been asking about the depth of the work taking place on Ontario Street. This depth is required to place a new trunk Sanitary sewer that is deep enough to service lands by gravity flow north of Grand Bend in the Municipality of South Huron. The trunk sewer will drain to the Sanitary Pump Station located at the corner of Gill Road and Main Street East in Grand Bend where it is pumped to the Grand Bend Area Sewage Treatment Facility on Mollard Line. This important piece of infrastructure will benefit both current residents and allow for future growth in our communities.

Week of September 26th work completed: Trunk Sanitary Sewer ongoing north of Oak Street

Week of October 3rd work planned: Sanitary Trunk Sewer on Ontario Street, and Sanitary jack and bore receiving pit in South Huron

Traffic Impacts: Ontario Street North – lane reductions on Ontario Street north of Oak Street 

Fall Update 4: Friday, September 23, 2022

The project team would like to thank Grand Bend area residents for their patience and understanding during the project re-start following the summer. Thanks to everyone’s cooperation, construction has been able to make good progress so far and we hope that will continue into the fall.

Week of September 19th work completed: Trunk Sanitary Sewer ongoing north of Oak Street and jack and bore sanitary sewer works within South Huron completed.

Week of September 26th work planned: Sanitary Trunk Sewer on Ontario Street.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North lane reductions north of Oak Street.

 

Fall Update 3: Friday, September 16, 2022

Construction work is continuing to make good progress. This project is funded in partnership by the Municipality of Lambton Shores, Municipality of South Huron, and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Connecting Links program. The project benefits all partners by improving infrastructure that serves the local municipalities and renewing a regional transportation corridor that is an important link along Lake Huron.

Week of September 12th work completed: Sewer bypass, Trunk Sanitary Sewer re-start north of Oak Street and jack and bore sanitary sewer works ongoing within South Huron.

Week of September 19th work planned: Sanitary Trunk Sewer on Ontario Street and continuing jack and bore sewer works within South Huron.

Traffic impacts: Ontario Street North lane reductions north of Oak Street.

Fall Update 2: Friday, September 9, 2022

Construction work was back in full swing this week as crews continue to make progress on replacing important infrastructure. Please continue to drive carefully through construction zones and observe and obey construction signage.

Week of September 5th work completed: Temporary roadway lanes, milling existing northbound lanes, watermain preparation at Oak St/Hwy 21, and jack and bore sanitary sewer works ongoing within South Huron.

Week of September 12th work planned: Sanitary Trunk Sewer on Ontario Street and continuing jack and bore sewer works within South Huron.

 

Fall Update 1: Friday, September 2, 2022

The Ontario Street North Reconstruction project will be starting up again next week within the Grand Bend limits. The project team is looking forward to a busy fall construction schedule in order to complete this project.

We appreciate the community's patience during this project and wish to remind the public to please exercise caution in and around construction sites.

We hope everyone had an enjoyable summer.

Week of September 5th work planned: Temporary roadway lanes, milling existing northbound lanes, watermain preparation at Oak Street/Highway 21, jack and bore sanitary sewer works within South Huron, and traffic layout and bypass works for sanitary sewer works in Lambton Shores.

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