Downtown Infrastructure Renewal

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Downtown Guelph is the heart of our city. It’s a place where residents and visitors come to live, work, play, and enjoy. We’re going to make it even better and breathe new life to our Downtown.

We have a vibrant and thriving Downtown, and we want it to stay that way for years to come. We also have aging water and sewer pipes, roads and sidewalks that must be replaced; some of the underground pipes are over 100 years old! We’re replacing our aging infrastructure and upgrading utility services, and, before we put the roads back together, we’ll also have an opportunity to modernize the streetscape.

Improving this important Downtown infrastructure will allow us to provide better community-driven service and help support the economic vitality of our vibrant Downtown core.

However, work like this takes time. It takes years to research, engage with the community, create a dependable plan, and replace the infrastructure. This necessary renewal work will ultimately improve our Downtown for all businesses, residents, and visitors. Let’s work together to create a place for everyone in Downtown Guelph.

The Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program project is one of many exciting projects under the overarching Downtown Renewal efforts. The overall Downtown Renewal program will transform and revitalize how Downtown looks, feels and functions while still preserving its unique cultural heritage, which will make it future-ready to continue supporting growth to 2051 and beyond.

Planning phase

Planning for Downtown Infrastructure Renewal began in the spring of 2021. During the planning phase, we’re looking at the existing infrastructure and the future needs of Downtown Guelph to determine what needs updating..

As part of the planning work, we initiated two Municipal Class Environment Assessments (EAs). Environmental assessments involve collaborating with the community to support the planning and decision-making for large-scale projects. These EAs looked at various options for traffic flow, pedestrian areas and public spaces in Downtown streets, and the bridge and dam structures along Macdonell.

  • The Wyndham Street EA examined the function of the road for all users including the number of traffic lanes and available active transportation infrastructure.
  • The Macdonell and Allan Dam structures EA across the Speed River is being completed to confirm required improvements and the preferred solution for each.

In February 2024, City Council approved the Wyndham Street North cross-section and St. George’s Square reconstruction, which came from the original Wyndham EA. The Macdonell and Allan Dam structures EA will be brought to Council for consideration later in 2024, as this work is still being completed.

We expect to start work on the final design of the first phase of construction for Downtown Infrastructure Renewal later in 2024. Construction will start in 2026.

The overall design and construction process for this infrastructure renewal is likely to last over the next few decades.

Project study area showing the river, London road, Dublin St N. and the train tracks as the main boundaries for the first phase of engagement, with a future consideration indicated blow the tracks as far as York roadProject study area


Engagement opportunities

Our most recent phase of engagement occurred from March 18-April 14, seeking your feedback about construction timing and phasing options for the first phase of Downtown Infrastructure Renewal.

  • Our online surveys was open from March 18 - April 14, 2023
    • Public survey
    • Downtown business specific survey
  • We had hosted a public open house on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the main lobby at City Hall to talk with the community

Future plans for public engagement will be announced this summer.

Subscribe for updates to stay informed when those opportunities become available!

A summary of past engagement activities and what we heard in 2022-2023 can be found in the “Documents” panel on the right-hand side of this page, including:

Spring 2024 summary to be released soon.

How to reach us:

We're always here to answer your questions. Please reach out any time at mydowntown@guelph.ca. We'll get back to you within a few business days.

Sign up to follow the project for regular updates. Simply subscribe using the "stay informed" link in the upper right corner of this page.


Downtown Guelph is the heart of our city. It’s a place where residents and visitors come to live, work, play, and enjoy. We’re going to make it even better and breathe new life to our Downtown.

We have a vibrant and thriving Downtown, and we want it to stay that way for years to come. We also have aging water and sewer pipes, roads and sidewalks that must be replaced; some of the underground pipes are over 100 years old! We’re replacing our aging infrastructure and upgrading utility services, and, before we put the roads back together, we’ll also have an opportunity to modernize the streetscape.

Improving this important Downtown infrastructure will allow us to provide better community-driven service and help support the economic vitality of our vibrant Downtown core.

However, work like this takes time. It takes years to research, engage with the community, create a dependable plan, and replace the infrastructure. This necessary renewal work will ultimately improve our Downtown for all businesses, residents, and visitors. Let’s work together to create a place for everyone in Downtown Guelph.

The Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program project is one of many exciting projects under the overarching Downtown Renewal efforts. The overall Downtown Renewal program will transform and revitalize how Downtown looks, feels and functions while still preserving its unique cultural heritage, which will make it future-ready to continue supporting growth to 2051 and beyond.

Planning phase

Planning for Downtown Infrastructure Renewal began in the spring of 2021. During the planning phase, we’re looking at the existing infrastructure and the future needs of Downtown Guelph to determine what needs updating..

As part of the planning work, we initiated two Municipal Class Environment Assessments (EAs). Environmental assessments involve collaborating with the community to support the planning and decision-making for large-scale projects. These EAs looked at various options for traffic flow, pedestrian areas and public spaces in Downtown streets, and the bridge and dam structures along Macdonell.

  • The Wyndham Street EA examined the function of the road for all users including the number of traffic lanes and available active transportation infrastructure.
  • The Macdonell and Allan Dam structures EA across the Speed River is being completed to confirm required improvements and the preferred solution for each.

In February 2024, City Council approved the Wyndham Street North cross-section and St. George’s Square reconstruction, which came from the original Wyndham EA. The Macdonell and Allan Dam structures EA will be brought to Council for consideration later in 2024, as this work is still being completed.

We expect to start work on the final design of the first phase of construction for Downtown Infrastructure Renewal later in 2024. Construction will start in 2026.

The overall design and construction process for this infrastructure renewal is likely to last over the next few decades.

Project study area showing the river, London road, Dublin St N. and the train tracks as the main boundaries for the first phase of engagement, with a future consideration indicated blow the tracks as far as York roadProject study area


Engagement opportunities

Our most recent phase of engagement occurred from March 18-April 14, seeking your feedback about construction timing and phasing options for the first phase of Downtown Infrastructure Renewal.

  • Our online surveys was open from March 18 - April 14, 2023
    • Public survey
    • Downtown business specific survey
  • We had hosted a public open house on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the main lobby at City Hall to talk with the community

Future plans for public engagement will be announced this summer.

Subscribe for updates to stay informed when those opportunities become available!

A summary of past engagement activities and what we heard in 2022-2023 can be found in the “Documents” panel on the right-hand side of this page, including:

Spring 2024 summary to be released soon.

How to reach us:

We're always here to answer your questions. Please reach out any time at mydowntown@guelph.ca. We'll get back to you within a few business days.

Sign up to follow the project for regular updates. Simply subscribe using the "stay informed" link in the upper right corner of this page.

  • Budget Watch

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    The budget to begin the planning phase was approved as part of the 2019 budget process, with further budgeting to continue this work included in the 2021 and 2022/23 budgets

    Throughout the planning phase information will come together which will help to determine the budget needs and revenue opportunities for the construction phase to be considered in each multi-year budget throughout the project lifecycle. The 2024-27 budget cycle (to be set before the end of 2023) will help to determine construction timelines for this project.

Page last updated: 15 Apr 2024, 10:59 AM