Thornbury West Reconstruction Phase 1 | Town of The Blue Mountains, ON

On this page:
1. Project Updates
2. Public Meetings & Information Centres
3. Map of Project Area
4. Quarterly Progress Reports
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. Subscribe for Project Updates

At the beginning of the reconstruction project, the Town identified areas in Thornbury with infrastructure that is approaching 100 years old. The first two projects considered for infrastructure replacement were the Elma Street & Alice Street area, and the Victoria Street & Louisa Street area.

Through the preliminary engineering process, the Town identified that the two project areas were similar in nature. As a result, the two independent projects were combined and are now referred to as the "Thornbury West Phase 1 Reconstruction Project."

Final engineering work, which is the process where the design is completed and construction takes place, was awarded for the Elma Street & Alice Street area in 2019. However, the project faced unanticipated delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction will be divided into Phase 1A and Phase 1B to allow more time for the Town to review options for tree retention.

Phase 1A - Construction in 2022

Victoria Street
Louisa Street, from Elma Street to Beaver Street
Beaver Street
100m of Alice Street east of Victoria Street

Phase 1B - Construction in 2023 (est.)

Elma Street
Lorne Street
Park Lane
Louisa Street, from Bruce Street to Elma Street
Remaining portion of Alice Street

Why Now?
Existing infrastructure requires replacement due to multiple watermain breaks, sewer deterioration, infiltration and excessive road cracking.

Project Updates

The Town will begin clearing trees in anticipation of Phase 1A construction beginning later this spring. The removals are being done at this time to avoid any conflicts with nesting birds later in the spring.
Trees to be removed:
- One (1) Cedar on Victoria Street near Alfred Street (#3)
- Five (5) Maples on Victoria Street at Moreau Park (#11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- Four (4) Poplars on Victoria Street at Rankin Landing (#22, 25, 26, 27)
- One (1) Nootka Cypress (#220) and a few Cedars on Alice Street to make way for services
- One (1) Ash on Louisa Street that is dead (#72)
- Five to six (5-6) Black Locust on Beaver Street that are small and in poor condition (#270 – 275)
- Clearing the patch behind Beaver Valley Community Centre/Water Operations Building
Please refer to the Arborist Report prepared in February 2021 to view specific locations based on the reference numbers.
A Staff Report will be presented to Committee of the Whole summarizing the comments and questions that were received at the Public Information Centre (PIC) held on December 1, 2021. The report includes several options that have been investigated since the PIC to possibly increase tree retention throughout the project area. It also outlines a phased approach to construction that would afford more time to review options for tree retention.
This phased approach would see the reconstruction of Victoria Street, Louisa Street from Elma Street to Beaver Street, Beaver Street and 100m of Alice Street east of Victoria Street in 2022 – referred to as Phase 1A. The 100% design drawings for Phase 1A are also available on the project page.
The report also requests that Council direct staff to hold a PIC to receive comments from the public regarding the proposed parkettes.
View Staff Report
View Phase 1A Design Drawings
The Town of the Blue Mountains has completed a traffic study as part of the preliminary engineering for the Thornbury West Phase 1 Reconstruction Project. The study recommends:
- Stop Up and Close Beaver Street from Victoria Street to Louisa Street
- Reconstruct the entrance to Foodland/LCBO to Victoria Street
The result of these recommendations will be to correct hazardous intersections at Beaver/Victoria and Beaver/Louisa.
View Notice of Public Meeting
View Staff Report
December 2020 - Merging of projects
Over the past year and a half, Tatham Engineering has been working with the Town to complete the detailed design for the Elma Street and Alice Street Area Reconstruction Project. More recently, Tatham Engineering was awarded and has nearly completed the preliminary design for the Victoria Street and Louisa Street Area Reconstruction project.
Due to the interconnected nature of the two projects, Tatham Engineering will also be completing the final design for the Victoria Street and Louisa Street Reconstruction. The two projects will be combined under a new title: Thornbury West Reconstruction - Phase 1.
View Newsletter
December 2020 - Victoria and Louisa Streets update
The Town is advancing design work in support of the Victoria and Louisa Streets Area Reconstruction. The primary objective of this project is to replace the existing aged infrastructure to improve functionality and public safety and reduce maintenance costs for the Town. In addition, the roads will be reconstructed, complete with improvements to the drainage systems.
View Newsletter
August 24, 2020 - Victoria St. S and Louisa St. W design options update
A Staff Report was presented to Town Council to review the proposed cross sections of Victoria Street South and Louisa Street West.
View Staff Report
November 8, 2019 - Elma and Alice Streets final design update
Michael Campbell, Construction Coordinator, hand delivered the letter regarding Elma Street and Alice Street Reconstruction Final Design and Construction update to those residents involved.
View Letter
June 13, 2019 - Elma and Alice Streets design advancing
Residents in Thornbury are advised the Town is advancing design work in support of the Elma and Alice Street Area Reconstruction project. The primary objective of this project is to replace the existing aged infrastructure to improve functionality and public safety, while reducing maintenance costs. In addition, the roads and lanes will be reconstructed, complete with improvements to the drainage systems, including restoration of all disturbed areas to previous or better condition.
View Newsletter
January 10, 2019 - Elma and Alice Street Arborist Report
WSP Canada Inc. was retained to complete an Arborist Report and Tree Protection Plan in support of road and sidewalk construction along Elma Street and Alice Street.
View Arborist Report
December 2018 - Elma and Alice Street Preliminary Design Report
WSP Canada Inc. has completed the Preliminary Design Report for the reconstruction of Elma Street South between Arthur Street West and Alfred Street West, and of Alice Street West between Victoria Street South and Bruce Street South. The purpose of this report is to provide preliminary design considerations and decisions for the recommended alternatives for infrastructure upgrades.
View Design Report
July 31, 2018 - Letter to Elma and Alice Street residents
The Town engaged WSP Canada Inc. (Owen Sound office) in December of 2016 to prepare a preliminary design report for the reconstruction of specific portions of Elma Street S. and Alice Street W.
View Project Update Letter
November 10, 2017 - Elma and Alice Street Geotechnical Investigation
WSP Canada Inc. has completed a geotechnical investigation to support the preliminary design alternatives of the municipal infrastructure renewal project on Elma Street South and Alice Street West in the Town of The Blue Mountains, Ontario.
The purpose of the geotechnical investigation was to obtain information of the subsurface conditions and soil types, including groundwater conditions, to provide geotechnical engineering recommendations for the replacement of underground infrastructure.
View Full Report

Public Meetings & Information Centres

The presentation deck and recording of the Public Information Centre regarding the proposed parkettes have been added below.

Map of Project Area

Quarterly Progress Reports

	Q1 2022
Project Scope	Revised scope
Project Schedule	On schedule
Project Budget	Within budget
Notes	The Town is investigating options for the addition of two Parkettes as a part of the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

The decision to convert Louisa Street West to one way is based on improving safety and providing more parking within the downtown core of Thornbury. Reconstruction of the road to current standards including dedicated parking would require a substantial retaining wall to be constructed on the south side of the road allowance. One-way traffic was found to be a better solution as it would provide the 6m minimum road width required for emergency vehicles, while also being able to accommodate dedicated parking in the space available. This configuration is also supported by the Town’s parking by-law. The turning movements onto Bruce Street from Louisa Street in both directions were also a concern due to the landscape and restricted sightlines.
A Staff Report was presented to support this decision.
Victoria Street South between Alfred Street West and Louisa Street West is listed in the 2019 Development Charges Background Study as a collector road. The Town does not have a collector road cross-section to provide guidance on what design elements should be included. With the shopping and restaurants at Arthur Street, and recreational and community facilities at Alfred Street, it was decided that this route will benefit from an enhanced level of service for active transportation.
This was supported by a Staff Report and Council resolution to increase the level of service on this section of road.
A traffic study was completed in the preliminary engineering of the Victoria and Louisa Streets Reconstruction project. This study included an evaluation of intersections impacted by this project, and identified the intersections of Beaver/Victoria; Beaver/Louisa and Beaver/Alice/Lansdowne as being unsafe. The study recommended the closure of Beaver Street between Victoria and Louisa, and the termination of Beaver Street north of Alice Street. A parkette is being proposed to connect the new Beaver Street cul-de-sac to the corner of Alice and Lansdowne. This will allow the Town to maintain an active transportation route and improve the urban tree canopy.
A Staff Report was completed to support this decision.
The Town has taken many steps to ensure as many trees as possible are retained. These steps include the retention of trees in poor condition whose canopies do not overhang the road allowance, retention of privately-owned trees that are in good condition where the reconstructed sidewalk edge is anticipated to match the existing sidewalk edge, and the enlargement of tree protection zones where possible for privately-owned trees that are only compromised by grading. In addition, the Town has consulted with a specialist arborist and the TBM Tree Trust to investigate further design and construction options that could possibly allow more trees to be retained.

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