Downtown Road Surface Repairs to Begin This Month

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Several downtown streets will receive road surface repairs as repaving work begins in May.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The scope of work includes replacing frames, covers, and grates, curb replacement in select locations, milling, surface paving and pavement markings.

Milling and surface paving work on George Street and Water Street will be performed during evening and overnight hours to minimize disruption to traffic and businesses.

Structure adjustments and select curb and gutter replacements will be completed during daytime working hours in smaller segments to reduce disruption for businesses and traffic. Milling and surface paving operations will be completed by entire segments respective to each operation to minimize associated disruptions as less duration is required during these operations. It is anticipated that adjacent properties will only experience direct disruption for about four to six days, depending on operational sequencing, weather, or other unforeseen issues.

The City of Peterborough is coordinating with the contractor to minimize impacts on summer events planned in downtown.

“Repaving downtown roads is a much-needed improvement in the heart of our city,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “On behalf of the City and Council, I thank the downtown residents and businesses for their patience while this work is completed. I encourage everyone to visit our excellent local restaurants, cafés and businesses downtown this summer.”

Access to all businesses will remain open during the construction period. Pedestrian access will be maintained.

IPAC Paving Limited is doing the work on behalf of the City and it is scheduled to be completed by fall 2025. As information becomes available, further information will be posted regarding the scheduling of the temporary lane reductions and closures.

Sections of the following streets will be periodically reduced to a single lane of traffic during repaving operations:

  • George Street between Hunter Street and Sherbrooke Street

  • Water Street between Simcoe Street and Brock Street

  • Sheridan Street from Hunter Street to the north limit

  • Brock Street from Water Street to the east limit

Short-term road closures will be in place on the following roads during milling and surface paving operations in 2024, with detour routes posted:

  • Brock Street from George Street to Water Street

  • Simcoe Street between George Street and Water Street

  • King Street between George Street and Water Street

Some on-street parking will affect certain blocks as operations move through downtown segments. Reduction of on-street parking on any block is expected to last four to six days in any given location. For information on parking garages and surface lots available downtown, please visit peterborough.ca/parking.

Peterborough Utilities will also be conducting water main relining concurrently on other streets in the surrounding area in 2024.

Schedules may change due to delays or inclement weather. Residents and businesses in the area are encouraged to subscribe to the project page for updates on the timelines for specific road closures, lane reductions and additional road surface repair locations to be completed next year at peterborough.ca/repaving.

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May Considered Museum Month For The City of Peterborough

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Peterborough Museum and Archives is celebrating “May is Museum Month” and encourages residents and visitors to plan a visit to a museum to learn about local heritage and culture and participate in programs, special events and exhibitions, announced Monday.

File Photo.

This year's theme is ‘Museums for Education and Research,’ which aims to highlight museums' pivotal role in learning, innovation and knowledge sharing.

The Peterborough Museum and Archives is designated as a 'Category A Collecting Institution,' meaning it collects, preserves and makes cultural property accessible to the public through exhibitions, research and online.

Accordingly, the Peterborough Museum & Archives manages:

  • over 45,000 objects in its artifact collections

  • over 400,000 original photographic negatives, 2,000 fonds and over 3,300 linear feet of archival material in its archival collections

  • the care and conservation of all objects and archival material in our collection.

Peterborough Museum and Archives provides exhibits and programming for everyone regardless of age. The Museum is self-guided and available by donation. The facility is located at 300 Hunter St. E., within Ashburnham Memorial Park on Armour Hill, in Peterborough. All visits to the archives require an appointment. Please call in advance to book your visit at 705-743-5180.

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City of Peterborough Accepting Entries For 2024 Canada Day Parade

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The City of Peterborough is accepting entries for the Canada Day Parade from community groups and businesses on July 1, announced on Tuesday.

Photo by Samantha Bianco.

Parade entry applications are open until June 14 at 4:30 p.m. 

“The Canada Day parade has been a family favourite in Peterborough for decades,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “It’s fantastic to have the community come together to celebrate our country and reflect on its history. Having an entry in the parade is an excellent opportunity for local businesses and community groups to connect with everyone along the parade route.”

Parade entry forms are available online and paper copies are available at the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre at 775 Brealey Dr. and City Hall at 500 George St. N.  

While the Canada Day Parade welcomes both community groups and commercial floats, the latter will be charged a fee of $125, payable online, according to a press release.

Each parade entry will require a representative to attend a safety orientation meeting on June 25 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the banquet room of Healthy Planet Arena, 911 Monaghan Rd. 

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Parks Canada to Complete Annual Maintenance On Several Peterborough Bridges

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Parks Canada will complete annual maintenance on three bridges in the City of Peterborough this spring.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The bridges will be temporarily closed to all traffic while maintenance is underway.

The following one-day closures will be in effect:

  • Maria Street bridge: Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

  • Parkhill Road East swing bridge: Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

  • McFarlane Street bridge: Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Detour routes will be posted for all closures.

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Several Downtown Roads To Undergo Road Surface Repairs; Work Completion Expected For Fall Next Year

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The City of Peterborough has planned to repair several downtown road surfaces with work expected to start next month, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The work is scheduled to be completed in the fall of next year. The projects have awarded to IPAC Paving Limited.

The scope of work generally includes the removal/disposal/supply/set of select frames, covers, and grates, resetting of valve boxes, select curb removal, curb re-installations, milling of existing asphalt, base asphalt repairs, application of emulsified asphalt tack coat, installation of hot mix asphalt and the application of pavement markings according to a City press release.

The City also adds that these upgrades may not address all drainage issues as this is not a full reconstruction and the project cannot correct existing grading or drainage deficiencies.

Milling and surface asphalt placement is proposed on the following streets:

Peterborough Utilities Group will be completing underground water main rehabilitation at the above-noted locations with the resurfacing of roads to follow next year.

Brock Street, Simcoe Street, King Street, and Murray Street — located between George Street and Water Street — will experience short-term road closures with posted detours during construction works to facilitate the work.

This is expected to impact milling and paving operations by one to two days. George Street, Water Street, Sheridan Street, Brock Street, McDonnel Street and Parkhill Road West will be reduced to a single traffic lane during operations, including eliminating parking along the roadways during structure adjustments, milling and paving.

Milling and paving of George Street and Water Street are proposed to proceed during night operations. Access for local traffic and businesses will be maintained during road closures; however, it is expected that local traffic may experience delays within the construction limits. More concise and/or revised information as it relates to Public impacts will be provided when issuing location-specific construction notices for this project.

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Second-Annual City Nature Challenge To Run From April 26 to 29

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The second annual community bio-blitz will occur in Peterborough from April 26 to 29 as part of the global City Nature Challenge competition.

A bio-blitz is a survey that identifies wildlife with the goal of understanding the biodiversity of a location. Nature observations can be uploaded using the iNaturalist app and posted to the Peterborough project page. All the city's wild and naturally occurring plants, animals and insects are eligible as nature sightings. Wildlife observations will be tallied at the end of the competition to determine the winning community in Canada.

On April 26 and 27, the City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Field Naturalists will host guided nature walks at GreenUP Ecology Park, located at 1899 Ashburnham Dr., both days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will feature family-friendly nature walks for all residents to learn how to make nature observations while exploring the park. Walks will be approximately 60 minutes, with the first tour at 11:30 a.m. and the last at 1 p.m. Guided tours depart from the event booth at the GreenUP Ecology Park Pavilion.

Event schedule

Friday, April 26

  • 11 a.m.: Opening remarks with Councillor Joy Lachica, Co-Chair of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth Management portfolio, Peterborough Field Naturalists and Dylan Radcliffe, Chair of the Peterborough Environmental Advisory Committee

  • 11:30 a.m.: Walk and Talk about Pollinators with Carlotta James, Monarch Ultra

  • 1 p.m.: The Natural and Cultural History of Little Lake, the Otonabee River and Meade Creek with Otonabee Conservation

Saturday, April 27

  • 11 a.m.: Opening remarks with Mayor Jeff Leal

  • 11:30 a.m.: Meet the Trees of Ecology Park with Vern Bastable, Peterborough GreenUp

  • 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Children’s Activity Hub with Susan Chow, Trent University

  • 1 p.m.: Discovering Nature in Early Spring with Drew Monkman

More information about how to participate in the City Nature Challenge is on the event web page at peterborough.ca/nature.

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Brealey Drive to Undergo Major Construction to Be Completed By Fall of 2025

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Brealey Drive will be closed to through traffic between Lansdowne Street West and Sherbrooke Street for a major infrastructure project that will start this spring and be completed in the fall of 2025.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

While the road will have access maintained for local traffic, the construction includes replacing storm sewers, sanitary sewers and water mains, installing new concrete curbs and gutters and concrete sidewalks, replacing the roadway granular base and the asphalt roadway, restoring boulevards, replacing street lighting, signage, landscaping and pavement markings.

The project was awarded to Behan Construction Limited. The first construction phase will be the section of Brealey Drive between Lansdowne Street West and Mapleridge Drive which will have detour routes posted.

“While road reconstruction projects can be disruptive, it is exciting to see these much-needed improvements on Brealey Drive underway. This Council is committed to infrastructure investments that improve conditions pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and that improve stormwater management,” said Don Vassiliadis, Monaghan Ward councillor. “Thank you for your patience as we get this important work done, Peterborough.”

“During my campaign in 2022, residents expressed to me that completion of Phase 2 of the Brealey reconstruction project was a top priority for them. So after a year of diligent work from both Councillor Vassiliadis and myself alongside the city’s excellent planning and infrastructure staff,” said Matt Crowley, Monaghan Ward councillor. “This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing infrastructure in Monaghan Ward and to ensuring resident connectivity as our community continues to grow.”

Traffic may experience delays in the construction area.

Northbound and southbound traffic will follow the posted detour route along Sherbrooke Street, Goodfellow Road, Clonsilla Avenue and Lansdowne Street West.

Route 9 Parkhill will operate on a detour route during the construction period.

The westbound route will travel from Brealey Drive to Kawartha Heights Boulevard to Lansdowne Street West, returning to its regular route on Brealey Drive.

Eastbound routes will travel from Brealey Drive to Lansdowne Street West to Kawartha Heights Boulevard to Brealey Drive, where they return to their regular route.

Pedestrian access within the construction area will be maintained throughout the project, however, it is expected that inconveniences may be encountered which will require pedestrian modifications and/or detours outside of the construction area.

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City of Peterborough Hosting Two Public Meetings; Survey Open For Input On 2025 Budget

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The first of two public drop-in meetings to consult with the community as part of the early phase of the City of Peterborough’s 2025 Budget process will be held on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the McDonnel Street Community Centre located at 577 McDonnel St.

pHOTO BY Keegan Beekers.

A second drop-in meeting will be held Monday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

The drop-in meetings provide an informal opportunity for residents, including council members and city staff, to share their ideas and questions about the 2025 Budget with the City’s Budget team.

The drop-in meetings are in addition to the regular, official Council meetings through the budget process that include opportunities for individuals to present as formal delegations to Council.

A 2025 Budget survey is available online. Hard copies can be picked up at City Hall, 500 George St. N. The survey is open until 11:55 p.m. on April 26.

The City consults with the community throughout the budget process—at the beginning before the priorities and direction are set for the budget's drafting, when the draft budget is released, and before the adoption of the final 2025 Budget is considered by Council.

Council is expected to consider the direction for the Draft 2025 Budget on June 11. The Draft 2025 Budget is scheduled to be posted for public review in November ahead of Council’s budget deliberations. The Mayor is expected to present the 2025 Budget for adoption on Dec. 9.

Information on the City budget is available online.

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National Youth Week Events in Peterborough From May 1 to 7

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The City of Peterborough and community organizations are hosting National Youth Week from May 1 to 7.

National Youth Week is a movement that celebrates youth and their active participation in their community. Each year, the City’s Recreation and Parks Services Division partners with various organizations to host a wide range of activities for youth to promote National Youth Week and encourage youth participation in community programs. Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Events include a First Friday Art Crawl, an expedition to Jackson Park to learn about birds, create a needle-felted Baby Yoda and play drop-in sports.

The entire lineup of free events for youth 10 to 19 is available online.

Events will occur at various locations including the Peterborough Museum & Archives, the Peterborough Public Library, the Peterborough Sport & Wellness Centre, Jackson Park and Downtown Youth Space.

National Youth Week serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of providing youth with opportunities to lead, innovate and inspire according to Councillor Lesley Parnell, Community Services (Recreation and Parks, Fire Services, and Arenas) Portfolio Co-Chair.

“Beyond promoting activities for youth, it’s a time for us to reflect on how we, as a community, can better support the next generation to make Peterborough a more inclusive, vibrant and forward-thinking city,” she said. “Our City is committed to nurturing the dreams and capabilities of our young people.”

“Our youth play an essential role in social and cultural life of our city,” said Councillor Gary Baldwin. “Their insights and enthusiasm are the key to our community’s continued growth and prosperity.”

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Half-Load Restrictions Lifted On Most City Streets On Monday

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Half-load restrictions for commercial vehicles on City of Peterborough streets will be lifted as of Monday except University Road, where restrictions are in place until May 1, announced on Thursday.

PHOTO BY KEEGAN BEEKERS.

The restrictions have been in effect since March 1 to help protect roadways from damage during the spring thaw.

Half-load restrictions remain in place until May 1:

  • University Road

Starting Monday, restrictions will be lifted from the following streets:

  • Armour Road from Nassau Mills Road to Paddock Wood

  • Ashburnham Drive from McFarlane Street to Maria Street

  • Ashburnham Drive from Neal Drive to the south city limits

  • Bensfort Road from River Road South to the south city limits

  • Brealey Drive from Parkhill Road West to Lansdowne Street West

  • Carnegie Avenue

  • Crawford Drive from Sir Sanford Fleming Drive to 0.6 km east of The Parkway

  • Cumberland Avenue from Ungava Avenue to Carnegie Avenue

  • Dobbin Road

  • Guthrie Drive

  • Harper Road

  • Hetherington Drive from Richard Road to Woodland Drive

  • Johnston Drive

  • MacFarlane Avenue - from Trentview Road to Television Road

  • Maniece Avenue from Ashburnham Drive to Television Road

  • McNamara Road from Guthrie Drive to Driscoll Road

  • Nassau Mills Road

  • Old Norwood Road from Ashburnham Drive to Television Road

  • Otonabee Drive

  • Parkhill Road East from Armour Road to Trent Severn Waterway Swing Bridge

  • Pioneer Road

  • River Road South from Lansdowne Street to Bensfort Road

  • Sherbrooke Street from Glenforest Boulevard to the west city limits

  • Towerhill Road from Chemong Road to Fairbairn Street

  • Wallace Point Road from Bensfort Road to Driscoll Road

  • Whittington Drive

  • Woodland Drive

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