Owen Sound Expands 2026 Road Resurfacing as 2027 Program Faces Near-Elimination
Owen Sound’s delayed 2026 road resurfacing program will begin by June 5 with 16 road segments, including additions beyond the City’s original plan, as questions remain about 2027 resurfacing funding.
The City of Owen Sound announced June 2 that its 2026 road resurfacing program will begin by June 5, after scheduling changes delayed the work from its planned May 11 start. The revised program includes 16 roadway segments, with three roads added and one removed from the list released on May 6.
Compared with the May announcement, 17th Street East, 11th Avenue East and 12th Street East were added to the program, while the planned resurfacing of 7th Avenue West between 14th Street West and the bridge has been removed. The City did not explain why the changes were made, though the May announcement said additional roads could be added subject to budget and operational considerations.
The 16 roadway segments scheduled for resurfacing in 2026:
4th Street East, 4th Avenue East to 5th Avenue East
28th Avenue East, 18th Street East to 20th Street East
7th Avenue East, 7th Street A East to 8th Street East
6th Avenue East, 100 block to 200 block
7th Street East, 7th Avenue East to 8th Avenue East
8th Street A East, 7th Avenue East to cul-de-sac
15th Street A East, 8th Avenue East to 9th Avenue East
14th Street East, 2nd Avenue East to 4th Avenue East
5th Avenue East, 18th Street East to north end
5th Avenue East, 4th Street East to 6th Street East
11th Street East, 10th Avenue East to 11th Avenue East
13th Avenue East, 11th Street East to 15th Street B East
11th Street East, 12th Avenue East to 13th Avenue East
17th Street East, 1815 17th Street East to 20th Avenue East
11th Avenue East, 12th Street East to cul-de-sac
12th Street East, 11th Avenue East to 12th Avenue East
The City says residents on affected streets should avoid on-street parking during construction, and that temporary traffic disruptions are expected throughout the project.
Residents can report road concerns through the City’s Report a Concern tool, or contact engineering technologist Manan Monga at 519-376-4440 ext. 3408.
Questions remain about 2027 road resurfacing
On May 25, council awarded a $2.4-million contract for the 16th Street East pedestrian tunnel rehabilitation. To fund the project up front, the City drew roughly $300,000 from a capital reserve and $575,500 from its 2027 federal gas tax allocation — the fund that has historically provided about $700,000 a year for annual resurfacing.
Director of Public Works and Engineering Lara Widdifield told council the move essentially eliminates the 2027 resurfacing program, with only small portions likely to proceed, as Owen Sound Current reported and Bayshore Broadcasting also covered.
The 2026 program and the 2027 reduction are separate decisions involving different budget years; the gas tax money committed to the tunnel was next year’s allocation, not this year’s.
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig said some resurfacing would still happen in 2027 within larger capital projects, pointing to the planned 4th Avenue West reconstruction. Coun. Travis Dodd said the funding mechanics would be worked out during capital budget discussions.
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