Two Peterborough Streets Labeled Top Five Worst Roads In Eastern Ontario

Peterborough has cracked the top five list twice in CAA’s Eastern Ontario’s Worst Roads of 2024 with Lansdowne Street and Water Street making the cut.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Eastern Ontario includes Peterborough County, Prince Edward County, Stormont, Dundas County and more according to CAA.

The following is a list of Eastern Ontario’s top five worst roads:

1. County Road 49 (Prince Edward)

2. Glen Road (Belleville)

3. Water Street (Peterborough)

4. Queen Street (Kingston)

5. Lansdowne Street (Peterborough)

Peterborough avoided having one of the worst roads in the province.

They were not listed among the province’s top 10 worst roads which are as follows:

1. Aberdeen Avenue (Hamilton)

2. Eglinton Avenue West (Toronto)

3. Barton Street East (Hamilton)

4. County Road 49 (Prince Edward)

5. Hurontario Street (Mississauga)

6. Bloor Street West (Toronto)

7. Cedar Street North (Uxbridge)

8. Finch Avenue West (Toronto)

9. Lake Shore Boulevard East (Toronto)

10. Laclie Street (Orillia)

In December, the provincial government invested $10,154,936 into Peterborough-Kawartha to help renew and rehabilitate critical infrastructure for 2024.

Jeff Leal, Peterborough mayor addressed that the roads in Downtown Peterborough should be repaired as a priority during that announcement.

“As I've said many times, they're an embarrassment,” he explained in a previous interview. “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.”

The following is the funding going to each municipality:

• 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

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Peterborough County Beginning Phase Two Of James A. Gifford Causeway Construction This Week

Peterborough County is already commencing the final phase of construction on the James A. Gifford Causeway in Selwyn Township for this week.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Phase 2 encompasses vital repairs to the bridge portion.

“The County is pleased to inform residents and visitors that despite the ongoing construction, the bridge and the road will remain open throughout the project duration. While we expect delays, we anticipate delays may be reduced in comparison to previous phases as we remain committed to minimizing disruptions as much as possible,” according to a statement in a press release from the County.

Completion is expected by November.

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Peterborough Transit Making Seasonal Adjustments To Several Routes

Peterborough Transit is making seasonal changes to some of its routes for the spring and summer.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Route 4 Weller

Route 4 Weller Eastbound will no longer travel into the hospital loop to improve route timing starting April 28. The stop on Weller Street at Sherwood Crescent has moved to Weller Street at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Walkway.

Route 5 The Parkway

• Late-night Northbound service is suspended on weekdays and weekends from April 21 until the beginning of September 2024.

• Northbound Route 5 finishes at 11:35 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7:35 p.m. on Sunday and Holidays.

Route 6 Sherbrooke

• Late-night service has been suspended on weekdays and weekends from April 21 until the beginning of September 2024.

• The last trip on both eastbound and westbound routes departs at 11:10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 7:10 p.m. on Sundays and Holidays.

Route 7 Lansdowne

• Route 7 Lansdowne will transition to its spring/summer route using the 7A routing via Ashburnham, the Lift Lock, and Hunter Street from April 28 through Oct. 26. All stops on Rogers Street between Maria Street and Hunter Street will continue to be served by Route 4 trips.

• Route 7 Lansdowne rush hour 7B trip at 7:50 a.m. from Willowcreek Boulevard to Fleming College has been suspended from service starting on Sunday.

• Route 7 Lansdowne rush hour 7B trips between Willowcreek Boulevard and Fleming College have been suspended from service on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays starting on Sunday.

Route 11 Water

Route 11 and 11A Water which serves Trent University, was suspended on April 21 until the beginning of September 2024.

Community Bus route changes

Effective Sunday, Route 22 Blue and Route 23 Red Community Bus will no longer travel on George Street past Simcoe Street.

• Route 22 Blue Community Bus will turn from George Street onto Simcoe Street and proceed to the bus terminal. From the bus terminal, the route will continue on Simcoe Street to Aylmer Street, turn left onto Aylmer Street to Charlotte Street, and turn right onto Charlotte Street to the regular route.

• Route 23 Red Community Bus will turn from George Street onto Simcoe Street and proceed to the bus terminal. From the bus terminal, the route will continue on Simcoe Street to Aylmer Street, turn left onto Aylmer Street to Lansdowne Street, to the regular route.

Detours

Peterborough Transit will make adjustments to routes for construction detours as they arise. The following routes have detours in place while construction projects are underway:

• Route 7A Lansdowne eastbound will detour from Rogers Street to Dufferin Street to Armour Road

• Route 9 Parkhill will detour from Parkhill Road via McDonnel Street and from Brealey Drive via Kawartha Heights Boulevard and Lansdowne Street West

• Westbound Route 23 Red Community Bus will detour via Romaine Street west to Park Street south to resume the regular route. Two temporary stops will be placed on the north side of Romaine Street: Romaine Street at Aylmer Street and Romaine Street at Park Street.

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Peterborough Transit To Provide Grade 8 Transit Quest Program During March Break

Peterborough Transit has partnered with Active School Travel Peterborough to provide the Grade 8 Transit Quest program from March 8 to March 17.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The program encourages students to use public transit by providing a free transit pass during March Break.

The Quest’s purpose is to increase students’ familiarity of the Peterborough Transit system as they begin to travel independently. Peterborough Transit alos wants a goal of making transit a mode of transportation that is both normal and accessible for local youth. Children aged 12 and under ride transit free year-round.

As incentive, students will receive a destination passport along with their transit passes which features free or discounted travel destinations.

“This is a great program to encourage kids to get familiar with Peterborough Transit routes,” said Ashley Burnie, GreenUp program coordinator. “Transit is an ideal transportation option for students to get to part-time jobs, shopping or seeing friends across town.”

Active School Travel Peterborough will be distributing the Grade 8 Transit Quest destination passports and free transit passes to Grade 8 classes in the City of Peterborough this week.

Ten destinations are featured in the Transit Quest destination passport including the Sport and Wellness Centre, the Public Library, the Museum and Archives and the Art Gallery of Peterborough, among other local businesses. Participants are encouraged to post to social media with #PTBOTransitQuest to share their journey and return their passports to their teacher to be entered into a class raffle.

New to the program are on-bus orientations for classes upon request.

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Commercial Vehicles Restricted to Half Loads From March 1 to April 30

Commercial vehicles will be restricted to half loads on the following streets in the City of Peterborough from March 1 April 30 to help protect roadways from damage during the spring thaw.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

• Airport Road from Sir Sanford Fleming Drive to the south city limits

• 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

• University Road

• Wallace Point Road from Bensfort Road to Driscoll Road

• Whittington Drive

• Woodland Drive

These restrictions are pursuant to By-law No. 12-044 and any amendments.

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Peterborough Transit Fare to Increase Starting Feb. 1

Peterborough Transit fare are increasing as approved through the City’s 2024 Budget on Dec. 11 and come into effect on Feb. 1, announced on Thursday morning.

File photo.

Peterborough Transit fares last increased three years ago on Jan. 31.

Children 12 years and under continue to ride free.

Bus passes can be purchased at the downtown Transit Terminal on 190 Simcoe St. or at Lansdowne Place at 645 Lansdowne St. W. Fare can also be purchased by using the HotSpot App.

The following are the fare increases from the City:

SCreenshot.

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County of Peterborough to Install 21 Multi-Use Path Lighting Poles At James A. Gifford Causeway On Tuesday

The County of Peterborough is installing 21 Multi-Use Path (MUP) lighting poles on the south side of the Causeway is scheduled for Tuesday (weather permitting) and will extend throughout the week.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

Temporary lane restrictions will be in place with flagging operations during the installation.

The activation and verification of account status with Hydro One may delay the operational commencement of the MUP lighting illumination according to a press release.

Upon conclusion, Phase 1 (Road Works) of the Causeway construction project will be concluded.

“We will continue to provide updates as the project approaches its commencement,” according to a statement in a press release. “We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period.”

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County of Peterborough Provides 2024 Construction Update of James A. Gifford Causeway

The County of Peterborough has updated the James A. Gifford Causeway construction plans.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The 2023 James A. Gifford Causeway roadworks tender was substantially completed in November 2023. The lighting installation along the new multi-use path is anticipated to be completed by mid-winter this year. 

The design of the next phase of Causeway construction is being finalized and will include extensive rehabilitation of the Chemong Bridge. The construction tender for this work is expected to be issued for public bidding in February.

The scope of the 2024 contract will also include a road reconstruction component, extending from west of Chemong Bridge to the Kelly Boulevard/Garthorne Avenue intersection.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

The scope of the 2024 construction contract will include:

• Repairs to Chemong Bridge superstructure and substructure

• Excavation and replacement of deteriorated concrete deck sections

• Renewal of the asphalt surface on the bridge

• Approx. 400 metres of road surface repairs east and west of bridge

• Renewal of steel beam guiderail

• New 1.8m concrete sidewalk on the south side of Chemong Bridge

• Connection to new multi-use path and installation of pathway lighting

Construction is to commence in the spring with completion in November. Motorists are advised to plan accordingly and consider alternate routes to avoid traffic delays.

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Capitol Taxi and Call-A-Cab To Merge Operations

After competing for over 60 years, the two local cab companies Capitol Taxi Ltd. and Call-A-Cab Ltd. are merging operations announced on Thursday morning.

Both cab companies have operated in Peterborough since the 1940s. Photo courtesy of Capital Taxi.

The driver and dispatch operations are being combined according to a press release. The dispatch centre is running out of the Capitol offices at 728 Rye St.

“At this time, in the interests of our customers, our employees and management we have decided to now join together the two taxi operations under the Capitol banner for better service and efficiency,” said Daryl Bennett, Capitol Taxi owner and former Peterborough mayor.

The phone lines remain the same (705 742-4242 and 705-745 2424) and are being answered as ‘Taxi Service.’

“The Donnellys, in exiting the daily taxi service, will continue their school van services and the public garage operations on Bensfort Rd.,” said Bennett.

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Peterborough Transit Making Service Adjustments For the Holidays Beginning Friday

Peterborough Transit service adjustments are being made for all routes during the holiday period from Friday until Jan. 7.

File photo.

All Route 11 and 11A Water trips will be suspended from Friday until Jan. 7, with regular weekday service resuming on Jan. 8.

Late evening trips after 11:32 p.m. will be suspended from Friday to Jan. 7 on all routes.

On Sunday, all routes end early, with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park).

There will be no service on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

On Dec. 26, all routes will be on a Holiday/Sunday service schedule, with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park).

On Dec. 31, all routes end early with the last trip departing no later than 7:15 p.m. (7:33 p.m. on Route 3 Park). Extended New Year’s Eve service will not be offered this year.

The Customer Service desk at the Simcoe Street Terminal will have adjusted hours for the holiday period:

• Sunday, December 24: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Monday, December 25: closed

• Tuesday, December 26: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 27 to Saturday, December 30: 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Sunday, December 31: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Monday, January 1: closed

Regular hours resume at the Simcoe Street Bus Terminal on Jan. 2.

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