Busy road in south-end Barrie to undergo major upgrades

Crews install silt fencing along Huronia Road in Barrie, Ont., to protect wildlife as a major construction project gets underway. (Source: City of Barrie)

Crews installed fencing along a busy stretch of road in the south end of Barrie in preparation of a major construction project on the way.

The City of Barrie is taking significant steps to update and upgrade Huronia Road, identified as a key transportation corridor, to accommodate future growth.

The improvements are part of the City’s Multi-Modal Active Transportation Master Plan, and include widening the road to four lanes, adding a paved shoulder, bike lanes and sidewalks, plus installing a new trunk sanitary sewer between Lockhart Road and the city's southern limits.

This week, crews completed installation of silt fences along the road to minimize impacts to animals in all areas of wetland habitat that could be affected by construction and struck by passing vehicles.

“The fencing protects turtles (including species at risk), and other reptiles from entering work zones and using road edges for nesting. To mitigate harm to wildlife, fencing will be installed outside the active period for turtles,” the City stated.

In the spring, trees were removed from Huronia, Lockhart and McKay in preparation of the project.

Earlier this month, the City held a drop-in public information session, presenting the proposed improvements and collecting feedback.

Huronia Road will be reconstructed in stages over time.

The City anticipates the entire project to wrap up in 2028.