Province Commits $1.3 Million for Pedestrian Tunnel Repairs in Owen Sound
Ontario will provide $1.3 million to Owen Sound to repair a pedestrian tunnel under Highway 26, addressing concrete damage and stormwater function as part of a broader infrastructure program.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation will provide $1,325,539 in funding to the City of Owen Sound to support rehabilitation work on the pedestrian tunnel beneath Highway 26 and 16th Street East. Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers shared the announcement late Monday.
The funding comes through the province’s Connecting Links program, which assists municipalities in maintaining roadways and related infrastructure that form part of Ontario’s provincial highway network.
The tunnel, built in 2005, serves the multi-use Grey County CP Rail Trail and also functions as part of the stormwater system for the West Telfer Creek Branch.
According to the City’s Capital Plan, the structure is showing signs of deterioration due to water infiltration and chloride exposure, which has caused severe concrete spalling in the tunnel ceiling. A new waterproofing membrane and structural repairs are planned to extend the tunnel’s lifespan.
The tunnel supports the 16th Street East roadway and, while it lies on a former rail corridor, it is owned and maintained by the City—not the County—because it supports a municipal road, much like a bridge.
A significant portion of the rehabilitation cost is expected to go toward managing traffic on Highway 26 during construction.
The City previously requested provincial funding to cover 90 per cent of the project’s estimated $1.4 million cost.
According to Vickers’ announcement, Ontario is investing $45 million across 29 infrastructure projects in 27 municipalities this year through the Connecting Links program. Eligible projects include design, construction, rehabilitation, and replacement of designated roads and bridges within municipal boundaries that are part of the provincial highway network.
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