Main West Delayed to 2027: Hawkesbury Moves Ahead With John and William Street Paving

Hawkesbury will redirect available resources toward two new road projects in 2026 following the postponement of planned work on Main Street West.

At the June 22, 2026 Council meeting, a recommendation was presented to approve a maximum budget of $450,000 for pulverizing and paving John Street and William Street, along with related work.

The change follows coordination issues between the municipality and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) that resulted in the Main West project being postponed until 2027.

Rather than leave the available 2026 funding and construction window unused, Town staff identified two streets where paving improvements could move ahead without requiring underground infrastructure work.

Why Was Main Street West Postponed?

According to the report presented to Council, coordination issues between the MNR and the Town made it necessary to postpone the Main West project until 2027.

The report does not provide further details about the nature of those coordination issues, so it would be premature to speculate about the specific cause of the delay.

The postponement did, however, create an opportunity.

Funding and operational resources that had been intended for Main West became available for another road project in 2026.

Because the construction season was already well underway, staff recommended selecting streets where work could be completed without major underground interventions.

“Delaying a planned project is never ideal, but when circumstances change, the important thing is to make productive use of the resources that are still available. If we can improve other streets in 2026 instead of simply waiting until next year, that is worth pursuing. I would like a public schedule on when every road is planned to be repaved. This would add more transparency for citizens.” — Simon Guindon

Why John and William Streets?

Town staff identified John Street and William Street because both require resurfacing but do not currently require work on underground infrastructure.

The proposed work consists primarily of pulverizing, reprofiling and paving.

This distinction is important. Road reconstruction can become considerably more complicated when water, sewer or other underground infrastructure must also be replaced.

Since that type of work is not required for these two streets, the Town can focus on improving the road surface within the remaining 2026 construction season.

A 2022 CCTV study is listed among the relevant studies considered in connection with the recommendation.

How Much Will the Work Cost?

Pricing was obtained through the United Counties of Prescott and Russell tendering process, under which Cornwall Gravel was the successful contractor.

After receiving the Town’s quantities, the contractor submitted pricing for the two streets.

The estimated costs are:

• John Street: $163,463 plus HST
• William Street: $195,420 plus HST
• Combined total: $405,537.80, including taxes

Town staff recommended approving a maximum overall budget of $450,000.

The additional room in the budget is relevant because the Town is also considering further work on an extended section of Main Street between John and William Streets.

The report does not confirm that this additional Main Street work will proceed, only that it is being considered.

“Residents should be able to see where infrastructure dollars are going and what they are accomplishing. When a project changes, we should clearly explain the reason, the new priority and the cost of the work that replaces it.” — Simon Guindon

What Does Pulverizing and Paving Involve?

Rather than undertaking a complete reconstruction, the project focuses on restoring the road surface.

Pulverizing generally involves breaking up the existing asphalt and incorporating it into the road base before the surface is reshaped and new asphalt is installed.

For streets where the underground infrastructure does not need to be replaced, this approach can improve road conditions without requiring the larger scope associated with full reconstruction.

For residents using John and William Streets, the most visible result should therefore be an improved driving surface.

The report does not provide specific construction dates or details about temporary closures and traffic impacts. Those will be important details for residents to watch for as the work is scheduled.

Making Better Use of the 2026 Construction Season

The decision also highlights a broader challenge in municipal infrastructure planning.

Road projects do not always proceed according to their original schedule. Coordination with other governments, approvals, underground infrastructure, contractor availability and the limited Ontario construction season can all affect when work can happen.

Having alternative projects ready can allow the Town to continue investing in its road network when a larger project is unexpectedly delayed.

“Good infrastructure planning should include the ability to adapt. We need long-term priorities, but we should also have projects ready to move forward when funding or construction opportunities become available.” — Simon Guindon

What You Need to Know

• The Main Street West project has been postponed to 2027 because of coordination issues between the Town and the MNR.
• Hawkesbury identified John and William Streets as alternative 2026 paving projects.
• The estimated combined cost is $405,537.80 including taxes.
• Council was asked to approve a maximum budget of $450,000 and award the work to Cornwall Gravel.
• Additional work on a section of Main Street between John and William Streets is also being considered.

Keeping Road Improvements Moving

The postponement of Main Street West changes Hawkesbury’s original infrastructure plans for 2026, but it does not necessarily mean losing a construction season.

By shifting available resources toward John and William Streets, the Town can address two roads already identified as needing resurfacing while preparing to return to the Main West project in 2027.

Residents should now watch for the construction schedule, traffic information and confirmation of whether the additional section of Main Street will be included in the 2026 work.