Notice of Construction - Culvert Replacement
August 25, 2025 - November 1, 2025
Please be advised that E.C. King Contracting will be removing and replacing a culvert along Highway 26, approximately 350 metres west of Lakeshore Road East. The work is scheduled to begin the week of August 25, 2025, and is expected to continue until November 1, 2025.
During this time, temporary lane disruptions may occur along Highway 26 in the project area. To help reduce traffic impacts, a temporary third lane will be constructed to divert vehicles. Please be aware of construction signage and use caution around workers in the area.
Notice of Development Activity
February 2025 – November 2025
Please be advised that development activities related to the Drainage Act Works will begin in February 2025 and are expected to be completed by November 2025.
The scope of work includes maintaining and extending existing drainage systems to improve water flow and reduce flooding risks, upgrading culverts to increase capacity for stormwater management, and installing a diversion channel to handle excess water flows. These improvements are designed to address drainage issues identified by the Town and the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority (GSCA) in 1993.
Should a road or lane closure be required throughout development activity, residents will be notified in advance through road signs and posted notices on the project webpage.
Drainage problems in the Craigleith area were documented in 1993, following which Municipal Drains were created.
Staff Report PDS.21.082 noted that Stormwater capacity constraints were documented in the 1993 Craigleith Camperdown Subwatershed study. In response to concerns about the existing stormwater drainage system, three Municipal Drains were established in 1996. The Blue Mountain Outlet and Diversion Drain divert flows from Watercourse 7 to Watercourse 8 and upsizes the Watercourse 7 culvert under Highway 26. The Ford Outlet Drain included upsizing the Watercourse 9 culvert under Highway 26. The Watercourse 8 culvert under Highway 26 was not upsized or reconstructed as part of the original Municipal Drainworks, although additional water was diverted from Watercourse 7 to Watercourse 8 and the culvert. While drainage improvements were made in 1996, the improvements did not create sufficient capacity to convey the Regulatory event (the greater flow from the 1:100-year storm), particularly on Watercourse 8.
With the continued development of the Craigleith area, there is a need to address drainage concerns at the mountain's base. Craigleith Landowner Group has development permissions for lands above the Ford Outlet Drain, Blue Mountain Diversion Drain, and the Blue Mountain Outlet Drain and has petitioned the Town through the Drainage Act for improvements to these drains, increasing the outlet capacity to Georgian Bay. The Craigleith Landowner Group will pay all associated construction costs. This will alleviate the existing deficient capacity in the downstream systems of these drains to improve overall drainage and provide relief for existing flooding conditions in the Craigleith Area. Existing flooding conditions of the watercourses and the analysis of flooding mitigation work were conducted by Crozier Consulting Engineers and reviewed/verified by Tatham Engineering and W.T Infrastructure.
The W.T. Infrastructure Engineers report provides a plan to drain lands to a sufficient outlet in accordance with the provisions of the Drainage Act. Excess flows from Watercourse 7 (the Blue Mountain Outlet drain) and Watercourse 9 (the Ford Outlet drain) will be diverted to Watercourse 8 (the Blue Mountain Diversion drain), and the capacity of the Blue Mountain Diversion drain will be increased to allow conveyance up to and including the Regulator event flows.
Stormwater management controls are also incorporated in the proposed developments as required by the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP).
The Town of The Blue Mountains would like to inform those interested in the Regional Stormwater Management Plan project that a Drainage Works Agreement has been executed, and development activities will commence in February 2025.