The Union Street East reconstruction project is continuing to progress through the design stage and the City of Waterloo would like to provide an update to residents about the current schedule and upcoming work. The City and Walterfedy have spent considerable time over the last few years consulting with City Council, third party utilities (e.g. Enova Power, Enbridge, Bell, Rogers, etc.), CN Rail and the Region of Waterloo, to ensure the design of the street can be accommodated.

The current schedule is for Union Street East to be reconstructed over two construction years:

• Phase 1 – King Street South to Willow Street
• Phase 2 – Willow Street to Moore Avenue South

Phase 1 currently scheduled to start mid-April 2026, with Phase 2 starting mid-April 2027.

Several of the third-party utilities will be making upgrades or relocating their infrastructure in advance of construction. Enova Power will be relocating and replacing utility poles, starting as in March 2025. Enbridge has already upgraded some of its infrastructure in Fall 2024, however completion of the upgrades is currently scheduled for Summer 2025 following completion of Enova’s work.

Residents will be invited to an in-person Public Information meeting in Fall 2025, followed be a second meeting prior to construction in Spring 2026. The first public meeting will provide information on the proposed design. The second will provide more information on what to expect during construction and provide an opportunity to meet the contractor.

Where possible, the City will make efforts to minimize the amount of disruption to the day-to-day activities of Union Street residents fronting construction; however, major reconstruction projects will inevitably result in some disruptions. Please note the following important information at this stage:

• Notify the City’s Project Manager if you have any mobility challenges

During construction, driveway access for your vehicle is generally unavailable during typical working hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Sidewalks will be maintained to the extent possible when driveway access is not available. There will be times when even sidewalk access is impacted. Knowing any existing challenges in advance will help plan for specific needs.

• Contact the City’s project manager if you are a business owner or landlord

The City will try to minimize impacts to businesses and multi-unit residential buildings, where possible. Knowing the particular needs of a business or building will help the City to plan for reasonable accommodation. Where reasonable accommodation is not possible, the City can provide details on the impacts so business owners and landlords can effectively plan and prepare for them.

• Hold off replacing driveways, walkways or scheduling any renovations

Construction will result in the ends of driveways and walkways being removed and patched at the end of construction. Waiting to replace driveways and walkways until after construction will avoid the need to cut into new pavement. The lack of access will also make it difficult for any contractors to complete renovations on your property. Please avoid scheduling renovations during construction if possible. If renovation is unavoidable, ensure your contractor is aware of the construction on the road.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this important infrastructure rehabilitation work. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the City’s project manager.