Railyard Development On East City's Hunter Street Officially Complete

Ashburnham Realty’s Railyard Development in East City on Hunter Street has officially been completed.

Photo courtesy of Ashburnham Realty.

“Our team is very happy to see the results of their efforts, and we are very fortunate to have long standing relationships with the local trades used,” said Paul Bennett, Ashburnham Realty owner.

With the final building now complete, half of the building has already been leased. Decorated by Michelle Beattie and Leon’s Peterborough, there are four furnished suites currently available for living.

“The tenants within the Railyard buildings have really taken ownership and created a community atmosphere offering game nights, potlucks and holiday-themed gatherings,” said Bennett. “There are groups of residents that bike together while others enjoy a leisurely walk along the trail. What we admire most about these buildings is that everyone knows your name and is welcoming.”

Photo courtesy of Ashburnham Realty.

The Railyard has occupants such as BMO Wealth Management, Duane Grant Thornton offices and The Railyard Cafe.

Nearby amenities include Ashburnham Ale House Foodland Grocery Store, Hard Winter Bakery, Black’s Distillery, Law & Orders and more.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $12 Million For Infrastructure In Peterborough City and County

The Ontario Government is investing $12,011,899 in the City and County of Peterborough to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure.

In 2026, Ontario will allocate $400 million in OCIF funding to help 423 small, rural and northern communities address critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding will be delivered through the 2026 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) as part of the government’s more than $200 billion capital plan to protect Ontario by building key public infrastructure that will strengthen the economy and keep workers on the job in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty according to MPP Dave Smith.

“This provincial commitment ensures our communities receive the reliable, predictable funding necessary to maintain and rehabilitate critical infrastructure assets such as local roads, bridges, and essential water and wastewater systems,” he said. “By empowering our local councils with this resource, we are stabilizing costs, strengthening the foundational services that residents depend upon, and facilitating continued economic growth throughout the county.”

The OCIF provides funding for local infrastructure projects in municipalities with populations under 100,000, rural and northern municipalities, as well as for Local Services Boards that own water or wastewater systems.

“Peterborough County thanks the Government of Ontario for its continued investment in local infrastructure through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “This funding supports essential projects that help maintain the services our residents rely on every day. We remain committed to working collaboratively to ensure all communities in Peterborough County can thrive."

“This funding will help us maintain and improve our roads for the benefit of all residents,” said Mayor Jeff Leal.

The amount of funding for 2026 is as follows:

• North Kawartha: $125,000

• Peterborough County: $1,260,030

• Selwyn: $232,869

• Trent Lakes: $125,000

• Havelock-Belmont Methuen: $144,000

• Douro-Dummer: $125,000

• City of Peterborough: $10,000,000

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Ontario Government Invests Over $9.5 Million For Peterborough's Critical Infrastructure

The Ontario government is investing $9,536,982 to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure in the City of Peterborough, announced at City Hall on Friday morning.

In 2025, Ontario will allocate $400 million in OCIF funding to help 423 small, rural and northern communities build roads, bridges, water and wastewater infrastructure. Communities may accumulate funding for up to five years to address larger infrastructure projects. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding will be delivered in 2025 through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund and is part of the government’s $190 billion capital plan to build and expand more homes, highways, hospitals, transit and high-speed internet across the province according to a press release.

“This investment of over $9 million will improve infrastructure throughout the City of Peterborough, particularly in the downtown core,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “It is formula-based funding that is sent out to the municipalities each year and is something they can count onto plan for critical infrastructure projects.”

“With this support, we can address key projects that will improve our core infrastructure and create long-lasting benefits for our residents,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “Strong infrastructure is the backbone of our city’s future, and this partnership with the province plays a pivotal role in ensuring a vibrant Peterborough for many years to come.”

The OCIF provides funding for local infrastructure projects in municipalities with populations under 100,000, rural and northern municipalities and Local Services Boards that own water or wastewater systems.

The funding allocations are based on a formula that accounts for each community's needs and economic conditions.

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Major Peterborough Infrastructure Project Now Complete

Parkhill Road West had been closed to through traffic between Reid and George streets for several months while major upgrades were completed.

Photo by CITY OF PETERBOROUGH.

Parkhill Road West, between Reid and George streets, has been reopened to through traffic following a months-long closure for infrastructure improvements including the replacement of storm sewers, sanitary sewers and a watermain, as well as substantial grading and road reconstruction.

“I’m extremely pleased to see the successful completion of this substantial improvement to one of our major transportation routes through the city, which included significant underground infrastructure to support current residents and future growth,” Mayor Jeff Leal said. “I want to thank the community for their patience during this process.”

“We’re seeing progress on much needed infrastructure work throughout the community, including Armour Road, Lansdowne Street, the downtown repaving work, Brealey Drive and this project on Parkhill Road,” Leal added.

The $7.25 million project, which started construction in June 2023, included excavation, grading, removal and installation of storm sewers, sanitary swears, watermain, storm, sanitary and water services, low impact development features, stormwater management, new curb and gutters and sidewalks.

It also included structural adjustments, asphalt milling, base and surface asphalt installation, tree plantings, signage installations and pavement markings.

“Investments in infrastructure such as the major infrastructure work on Parkhill Road is critical for the life of our community, upgrading and protecting core services including the transportation network, storm water management, sanitary sewers and drinking water pipes,” stated councillors Kevin Duguay and Joy Lachica, co-chairs of the city’s Infrastrucutre, Planning and Growth Management Portfolio. “It’s the foundation for a thriving and growing community.”

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Charlotte Street West Streetscape Project Survey Open to Public

The City of Peterborough is inviting the public to take a survey regarding the streetscape along Charlotte Street, between Park Street North and Aylmer Street North to inform the creation of conceptual options for an enhanced streetscape design.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

A public survey for the Charlotte Street West Streetscape Project is available online through July 28. Visit City Hall reception at 500 George St. N for a paper copy of the survey.

The Charlotte Street West Streetscape Project builds upon:

• past investigation and consultation work for Charlotte Street, incorporating new guidance from updated national and provincial transportation standards;

• recently approved City of Peterborough planning documents, including the Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Cycling Master Plan, and Central Area Urban Design Guidelines; and

• current public consultation activities.

The project aims to integrate multi-modal transportation options (walking and rolling, cycling, transit, and driving) to support sustainable, efficient, and accessible travel for all ages and abilities according to the City. Concepts will balance space needs for travelling, loading/unloading and parking while strengthening user experience, downtown activity, and economic growth with improved amenities, wayfinding, and urban design.

According to a press release, the City is inviting community members to share feedback through the public survey on how they use this section of Charlotte Street, their experience and their ideas for the future of this important area of Peterborough’s downtown.

Feedback from the consultation will help inform the development of the conceptual design options. When the design options are created, another consultation stage will be held to get feedback on the design options before recommendations are presented to City Council.

The reconstruction of Charlotte Street has not been approved and the construction project has not been fully funded. The City is preparing a streetscape design recommendation so that a project plan is in place for when the construction is ready to proceed.

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Traffic Interruptions Expected At Kirkfield Lift Lock Until Friday Evening For Repairs

Parks Canada advises the public to expect traffic interruptions at the Kirkfield Lift Lock until Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK IS LOCATED A FEW KILOMETRES NORTH OF THE VILLAGE OF KIRKFIELD. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARKS CANADA.

A crane will be on-site to support the final repairs at the Kirkfield Lift Lock before the navigation season.

“We expect to be able to maintain both lanes of traffic flow on Kirkfield Road (County Road 6), although traffic controls, including flaggers and signage, will be in place as needed,” according to a press release statement.

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Monaghan Road Housing Project Making Significant Strides In Public Update From The City of Peterborough

Construction of the City of Peterborough’s affordable housing project at 681 Monaghan Rd. will show significant progress in the coming weeks as precast structural loadbearing walls and precast floor slabs are installed followed by prefabricated wall panels, announced by the City of Peterborough on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

This is the first City construction project to use prefabricated construction techniques.

Construction started in the fall of last year with an official groundbreaking ceremony held on Oct. 11 for the six-storey building with 53 units including 37 one-bedroom, 11 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units with amenity space and utilities on the ground floor. Construction is expected to be completed this year.

“It’s exciting to see the progress of construction at 681 Monaghan Rd.,” said Councillor Keith Riel. “This important housing project is being funded as part of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rapid Housing Program, so it was essential that the team assessed construction techniques for both cost efficiency and the ability to facilitate a shorter construction period.”

“Unity Design Studio, formerly Lett Architects, has a rich history in Peterborough and is proud to be collaborating with the City of Peterborough on this project -  a crucial stride toward providing much-needed affordable housing,” said Roy Turner, Unity Design Studio senior project lead. “As the building takes form, we would like to express our gratitude for the dedication of the entire project team. Their commitment ensures that upon completion, this building will offer affordable housing to many and positively impact our community.”

“As proud members of this community, we are so fortunate to be able to help address this crisis with this much needed project,” said Craig Mortlock, Mortlock Construction president. “To date, we’ve spent many months working together with the City of Peterborough and the design team to design, coordinate, implement and construct this building. We are now at a very exciting stage of the project. We, and any other passerby, get to witness the fruits of the team’s planning and coordination, as the precast concrete structural panels are being delivered and placed on site. It is so rewarding to see this building taking shape so quickly, growing daily, eventually allowing so many people to call this building home.”

This affordable housing project received $18.9 million in federal funding through the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI3), $40,000 in SEED funding, $854,810 through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) and over $4 million from the City of Peterborough.

The project will be home to vulnerable populations in Peterborough, including Black Canadians, people with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, homeless people or those at risk of homelessness.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $10 Million to Peterborough and County For Infrastructure; Mayor Jeff Leal to Prioritize Fixing Downtown Roads, Calling Them 'Embarrassing'

The Ontario Government has invested $10,154,936 into Peterborough-Kawartha to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure for 2024.

Mayor Jeff Leal wants to prioritize upgrading several deteriorated downtown roads, calling them ‘an embarrassment.’

In 2023, the Ontario government provided $400 million in funding through OCIF to 425 communities. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund to help support economic growth and job creation, according to Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP.

“This investment of over $10 million will improve infrastructure throughout the municipalities in the region,” he said. “It is formula-based funding that is sent out to the municipalities each year and is something they can count on to plan for critical infrastructure projects.”

The following is what each municipality is receiving from the $10 million:

• North Kawartha: $100,000

• Trent Lakes: $119,868

• Douro-Dummer: $161,441

• Havelock-Belmont-Methuen: $180,124

• Selwyn: $304,404

• Peterborough County: $996,071

• Peterborough: $8,293,028

Leal was adamant about upgrading downtown roads such as Aylmer Street, George Street and Water Street.

“Some of these projects had been on the books for well over two decades,” he said.

The dilapidated roads are not representative of what Downtown Peterborough is supposed to be, according to Leal.

“When people come to the City of Peterborough, they drive to Downtown. What impression do we want them to have for the City of Peterborough?” he said. “The impression we want them to have is an innovative, growing and a progressive community and not talk about washboard streets in your downtown corner.”

Leal continued to label the roads as an embarrassment which should be addressed with the funds from the 2024 budget.

“As I've said many times, they're an embarrassment,” he explained. “An embarrassment to me and an embarrassment to every citizen in the City of Peterborough. You can't have your downtown streets in that kind of condition.”

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Partial Lane Closure At Kirkfield Lift Lock For Repairs Scheduled For Tuesday Until Saturday

The Kirkfield Lift Lock (Highway 503) will experience traffic interruptions from a lane closure starting from Tuesday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 a.m. according to Parks Canada.

THE KIRKFIELD LIFT LOCK IS LOCATED A FEW KILOMETRES NORTH OF THE VILLAGE OF KIRKFIELD. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARKS CANADA.

The closure facilitates crane access, supporting the Kirkfield Lift Lock Urgent Repair project according to Parks Canada. Traffic controls, including flaggers and signage, will be in place as necessary.

The pedestrian walking path from the south side to the washrooms through the road-level walkway will be unavailable during this period.

While repairs progress, Parks Canada advises boaters that single chamber lockages remain in place, operating on demand and taking approximately 60 minutes per transfer.

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Infrastructure Project on Armour Road Between Hunter and Clifton Street

Armour Road between Clifton Street and Hunter Street will be closed to through traffic, with access maintained for local traffic, during a major infrastructure project that will include replacing storm sewers, sanitary sewers and the water main as well as road reconstruction.

file photo.

Local traffic with a destination within the road closure will be permitted, however travellers may experience delays within the construction limits.

The project, awarded to Green Infrastructure Partners Inc., is tentatively scheduled to begin on July 17. The majority of the work is scheduled to be completed by late fall of 2023. Any carryover work that remains will be completed between May and July 2024.

The project includes removal of existing infrastructure, excavation and grading, installation of new storm sewers and sanitary sewers, watermain, concrete curb and gutter, road base and asphalt, streetlights, sidewalk, tree planting, pavement markings and regulatory signage.

Detour routes:

Vehicle detours

Southbound traffic will turn west at Parkhill Road East, south on George Street and east on Hunter Street to Armour Road.

Northbound Traffic will travel west on Hunter Street, north on Water Street and east on Parkhill Road to Armour Road.

Pedestrian detours

Pedestrians travelling north and south will take Rogers Street between Hunter Street and Hazlitt Street. 

Transit detours

Peterborough Transit Route 7 will be rerouted northbound, continuing straight on Rogers Street, turning right on Dufferin Street and left on Armour Road, returning to the regular route.

 Northbound stops on Armour Road at Douro Street, Macfarlane Street and Euclid Avenue will not be served by Route 7 Lansdowne during this construction.

The following temporary bus stops will be added:

• Northbound on Rogers Street at Oxford Street

• Dufferin Street at Armour Road

Related information can be found by visiting the Road Construction Map posted on the City’s website.

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