Major 9th Avenue East Roadwork to Begin June 18 in Owen Sound
Major roadwork begins June 18 on 9th Avenue East in Owen Sound. Expect detours, lane reductions, and transit changes through November.
The City of Owen Sound is advising residents and motorists of a major road reconstruction project set to begin Tuesday, June 18, affecting 9th Avenue East from Superior Street to 6th Street East.
The rehabilitation project, which will run from June through November 2025, includes major upgrades to underground and surface infrastructure along 9th Avenue East. This includes replacing aging water and sanitary sewer lines, adding a new sidewalk on the west side between 6th and 8th Streets East, and repairing or replacing stormwater systems.
The road itself will be fully resurfaced, and a new looping watermain will be constructed to improve system reliability. The project has a total cost of $5,134,650 and is being partially funded by the Ministry of Transportation’s Connecting Link Grant Program, which is contributing $2.7 million toward the work.
Given the scale of the work, significant traffic disruptions are expected throughout the southeast end of the city.
Detours
Starting June 18, 6th Street East will be fully closed between 8th Avenue East and 9th Avenue East. The City has announced the following detours will be in place:
Detour 1 (6th Street East – Eastbound): Eastbound traffic will be rerouted via 7th Avenue East (northbound) and 10th Street East (eastbound).
Detour 2 (6th Street East – Westbound): Westbound traffic on 8th Street East will continue west to 3rd Avenue East (southbound).
Detour 3 (6th Street East – Westbound): Westbound traffic on 10th Street East will continue west to 3rd Avenue East (southbound).
These detours are designed to reduce congestion and safely redirect large trucks and commuter traffic away from the construction zone.
Transit and Pedestrian Changes
The City’s Crosstown bus route will also be temporarily adjusted. Buses will be rerouted at 6th Street East and 8th Avenue East, continuing along 8th Avenue East to 8th Street East.
Two bus stops will be relocated:
The stop near 611 9th Avenue East (Superior Court of Justice) will be moved to 625 8th Avenue East.
The stop in front of 875 6th Street East (Lee Manor) will shift approximately 25 metres west to a temporary stop in front of 795 6th Street East, along the 6th Street East service road.
Pedestrian access through the area will be maintained, but users are urged to exercise caution while walking near the construction zone. One traffic lane will remain open in each direction on 9th Avenue East during the work.
Residents Encouraged to Plan Ahead
During construction on 9th Avenue East, waste collection will continue as usual, but residents should place bins out by 7:00 a.m. and label them with their address so contractors can move and return them properly.
While most work will stay within the City’s road allowance, some properties may be affected for service connections. Any disruptions will be restored. Planned water outages will occur for some residents and businesses, with advance notice provided.
Motorists and transit users are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and consider alternative routes when possible.
In a prepared statement posted June 12, the City thanked residents and visitors for their patience and cooperation during this essential infrastructure upgrade.