Taylor Road Improvements

• the bridge
• the sewer
• the water lines extending to Front Street/Bird Lane 

The project will be done in two phases:

• Phase 1: sewer and water work, and fixing the surface of the bridge and road.
• Phase 2: upgrading the underside of the bridge. 

Traffic Restrictions and Detours: Please plan ahead.

• Starting mid-April: Taylor Road will be reduced to a single westbound lane between Front Street/Bird Lane and Hiram Street (towards Downtown).
• Eastbound traffic (Towards Highway 11) will detour to Entrance Drive/Cedar Lane. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
• The intersection at River Road & Taylor Road will be closed throughout the full project.
• When it’s time to connect the new sewer and watermain pipes, crews will need to fully close Taylor road. They anticipate the closure will last up to 5 days. The District will give residents and businesses at least two weeks’ advance notice before this shutdown. Access for pedestrians and to nearby properties will be maintained.
• Once Phase 1 is complete, Taylor Road will reopen to all traffic, except the intersection with River Road, which will remain closed.
• During Phase 2, there may be short periods when one lane will need to be closed. These temporary lane closures won’t happen too often and traffic flow will be managed by members of the crew. 

Construction noise

As with all construction projects, there will be increased noise during work hours. Crews will adhere to the Town of Bracebridge Noise-by-law.

Construction working hours will be from April 2024 to Fall 2024.

• Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (only when needed)

The District is taking a one and done approach to this project by fixing the bridge and sewers/watermains at the same time.

This approach has three main benefits:

• It is more efficient.
• It will save taxpayer dollars.
• It closes the road once for all the work at this location and reduces the need to close this section busy road again in the future.

The current surface of the bridge is rough to drive on. A recent inspection showed that the bridge needs resurfacing, new joints, and preventative maintenance repairs so that it will last longer. As well, the sanitary sewer under the road is aging and is not big enough to handle increased flows during times of high demand. Finally, a new watermain is needed to reduce possible drinking water outages for residents east of Taylor Road Bridge.

The Taylor Road Improvement project will give drivers a smoother ride and extend the life of the bridge. It will also prevent sewer backups, ensure drinking water is flowing as it should and that residents have continual access to the water they need.

1.   Why are flaggers onsite before construction starts on Taylor Road?

Flaggers will be onsite conducting investigative work to assess the current state, before construction begins in mid-April. This preliminary work is crucial to ensure that the construction phase is as efficient as possible. 

2.   What are the key components of the construction work?

The project focuses on three main areas: rehabilitating the bridge surface and structure, replacing the outdated sewer main, and installing new water lines to ensure reliable water supply and management of our sewage.

3.   How is the District coordinating with emergency services like paramedics and fire departments during the construction?

From the early planning stages, we've worked closely with emergency services, involving them in construction coordination. Our emergency services partners are aware and prepared for any scenario, with even greater readiness in planned construction projects like this one.

 4.   How will school bus routes be affected by the construction?

Because this project is planned and we can anticipate the impacts to school bus routes, school bus transportation operators are able to prepare more effectively, leading to minimal impacts on school bus routes. Our aim, and the goal of the school board is to maintain consistency for students and families, and we foresee no impacts. Pedestrian access will be maintained for students who walk to school.

5.   How long will the construction take, and what are the phases?

Construction is set to start in mid-April 2024 and is expected to complete by Fall 2024. It's divided into two phases: Phase 1 includes sewer and water line work and surface repairs, while Phase 2 focuses on the bridge's substructure.

6.   Why is the construction happening now instead of later?

This "one and done" approach is more efficient, cost-effective, and minimizes future disruptions by addressing major infrastructure needs in one project. We are replacing and improving infrastructure that supports our daily routines – like turning on our tap, flushing our toilets and driving to work. To make the most of available funding, we’re combining this work together to repair the bridge, water and sewer lines to ensure community safety and service reliability.

7.   Why not implement two-direction alternating traffic during construction?

Due to the proximity of the work to the CN Rail track crossing and the downtown core, queuing of vehicles in the Eastbound direction is not desirable due to safety and overall congestion.

Providing continual Westbound access will improve the flow of traffic from Highway 11 to             downtown Bracebridge, as well as improve emergency response from the main Taylor Road station.

See the detour route.     

If you have questions or need more information, the Project Team is here to help.    

Project Lead: Rob Anderson - District of Muskoka 

• Email Rob 
• Phone: 705-645-2100 ext. 4499 
  
  

• Email Ryan 
• Phone: 705-645-7756 ext. 2051