The City of Barrie Multi-Modal Active Transportation Master Plan identified Yonge Street as a key transportation corridor and recommended several transportation improvements to accommodate the growth of Barrie to 2031.
Transportation improvements include reconstruction and widening of Yonge Street (Mapleview E to Lockhart) to inlcude five lanes, a cycle-track and a sidewalk. The project will also include reconstructing St. Paul Crescent (Mapleview E to Yonge).
The purpose of this project is to implement the preferred servicing solution as recommended by the Municipal Class EA process. See background.
The City of Barrie has retained Ainley & Associates for the provision of engineering services for the preliminary and detailed design of the preferred alternative design solution for Yonge Street and St. Paul Crescent, contract administration, construction inspection, commissioning and warranty administration for these projects are provisional items.
As announced on March 28, 2025, this project is receiving funding support from the Province of Ontario through the Housing Enabling Core Servicing (HECS) grant.
Project Updates
February 26, 2025
The City has retained GEMTEC Consulting Engineers and Scientists to conduct additional geotechnical investigations on Yonge Street and St. Paul Crescent. As part of this work, drilling activities are expected to begin the week of March 10, subject to weather and site conditions.
Residents can expect to see an increase in construction-related activity along Yonge Street and St. Paul Crescent, including the presence of drilling equipment and work crews. Every effort will be made to minimize disruptions, and appropriate safety measures will be in place throughout the duration of the work.
Project construction is now expected to begin in 2026 instead of 2027.
Schedule
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Finalize Design | 2025 |
| Property Acquisition | 2022–2025 |
| Utilities | 2025–2026 |
| Construction Start | 2026 |
Project Features
The preferred design alternative for Yonge Street includes the following:
- Reconstruction and widening of the roadway to 5 lanes, 4 through lanes, (2 per direction), and a 4.2m median (raised or painted, depending on adjacent land use)
- 3.0 m Multi-Use Pathway on west side
- 2.0 m sidewalk on the east side
- Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater management features
- Implementation of watermain and sanitary sewer
- Elimination of roadside ditches and the additional of curbs and sidewalk
- Construction of a new storm sewer system
- Street lighting
- Provision of Traffic signals at future intersections and improvements to the traffic signal at Lockhart Rd
The St. Paul Crescent reconstruction will include:
- Intersection realignment with the future Sheppard Drive
- Roadside drainage improvement
- Localized resurfacing to improve rideability
- New sanitary sewer and services
- New watermain and water services
Background
Environmental Assessment (EA) Study
Phases 3 & 4 of the Municipal Class EA process were completed for the study area in consideration of the physical, natural, cultural/heritage, social and economic environments. The proposed design alternatives were evaluated in consideration of these criteria. Subsequent to this analysis and the agency and public input provided, the preferred design alternatives were chosen.
Public Information Centre
A Public Information Centre (PIC) was held on November 14, 2018 to present the proposed improvements and seek community feedback. The PIC was an informal drop-in session where participants were able to review information presented, ask questions of City staff and the design team, and provide feedback to help guide the finalization of the design.
Please see the following documents for details on the PIC: