The City completed the Sophia Creek Watershed & Mulcaster Drainage Area Environmental Assessment (EA) Update in 2017. Per the EA, this project will upgrade the storm sewer system along Owen Street and Sophia Street East to reduce flooding risk to the downtown. It will also replace all existing under and above-ground infrastructure within the limits.
Project Updates
February 14, 2025
The contractor will mobilize to site this month, and will begin construction in March 2025. The first stage of work will focus on the area of Owen Street from Dunlop to north of Collier.
Owen Street will be closed from north of Dunlop to Collier, including the full closure of the Collier Street intersection. The closure is expected to start on Monday, February 24 and remain in place until July 2025. No vehicles will be permitted to travel through the closure. Local access to businesses will remain open with detours in place via Mulcaster Street, Worsley Street, and Clapperton Street.
Transit impacts will be available at MyRideBarrie.ca/News. Additional detour information is available on the road closure map and road closure listing.
A February 2025 information bulletin has been distributed to nearby properties.
Impacted Streets
- Sophia Street from Peel to Owen
- Owen Street from Dunlop to Sophia
Clapperton Street works were removed from the project scope in 2023 and will be a separate future project.
Project Details
The contractor will:
- Remove and replace existing roadway, curbs, and sidewalks
- Remove and replace sanitary sewer, watermain, and storm sewer
- Install a new large trunk storm sewer from Berczy Park (Peel Street) to Dunlop Street
- Install new street lighting and street parking equipment
- Upgrade traffic signals at Collier Street and McDonald Street
- Upgrade pedestrian infrastructure including new paved boulevards, crosswalks at all intersections, and a new sidewalk on the south side of Sophia Street east of Owen
Project Schedule
| Stage | Timing* |
|---|---|
| Engineering Design | 2022–2024 |
| Site Preparation | 2023–2024 |
| Utility Relocation | 2023–2025 |
| Road Construction | 2025–2027 |
Project Information Meeting
A Project Information Meeting was held on Monday, October 2, 2023 from 5:30–8:30pm at City Hall (70 Collier Street) in Huronia Room A. The meeting was an opportunity to learn about the project and discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Service Impacts
Hydro, sanitary sewer services, water services, telephone, cable TV, and gas services should not be affected by the construction, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Road & Sidewalk Access
Pedestrian access will be maintained during construction.
Owen Street will be closed to through traffic, with access to residences/businesses being redirected. To start, a full road closure on Owen Street, from Dunlop to north of Collier (including the Owen Street/Collier Street intersection) will be in place. As work progresses, the road closures will shift along Owen Street to Worsley, then McDonald in later 2025, then up to and including Sophia Street in 2026.
The City will post signage, as required, on how to access businesses. The contractor will use detour routes for traffic to reroute vehicles around the road closure. Visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures for detour information.
Access for emergency vehicles will always be maintained.
Driveway Access
Vehicle entry to properties within the construction limits will be available. At times, direct access to driveways will be interrupted; in these cases individual notices will be delivered with additional information about the interruption.
Safety
The contractor is required to conduct work in a safe manner, such as using traffic cones and fencing off excavations. Please use extra caution in the construction zone to ensure everyone’s safety.
