At its February 23 meeting, Huntsville Council gave municipal staff a green light to proceed with the reconstruction of Chaffey Township Road.
Staff noted that it’s a difficult project, given the narrow roadway, Gipsy Bill Creek on one side, as well as hydro lines. Council was also told that it will have a significant impact on some properties — some property owners will lose half of their driveway or road frontage, and trees will have to come down.
Over the years, area residents have expressed safety concerns along the roadway, which has seen a significant increase in development. The roadway lacks sidewalks and is very narrow in certain sections, making navigation difficult and dangerous for pedestrians, including students walking to the nearby school.
In 2025, council agreed to set aside funds in the capital budget for the completion of design work associated with the Chaffey Township Road reconstruction project and approved $1M for the cost of the reconstruction project in the 2026 capital budget.
Brandon Hall, Huntsville Operations Manager, was before council on Monday and said the design work being undertaken is currently paused pending council direction on pedestrian access.
Council was asked to provide direction on whether to install a seasonal asphalt shoulder or a permanent concrete sidewalk.
Following lengthy discussions, council opted for the installation of an asphalt sidewalk instead of an asphalt shoulder, which could have only been used for part of the year. It would be less expensive than a concrete sidewalk, estimated at $2.16M in Hall’s report, and similar to the Centre Street N. sidewalk. Council also approved up to $1.16M more for the project to be funded through the existing roads capital budget by reorganizing other scheduled capital projects.
Hall anticipated that the project would move forward this year and be completed either this year or next, avoiding winter construction. About $500,000 of the total project cost will be allocated from development charges.
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I think muskoka rd 3 sidewalks and street lights is more of a priority from hwy 60 to homestead ln..
Maybe work on sidewalks and lighting on Muskoka Rd 3 N as well or first (before Chaffey Township).
Throw in a “flashing speed limit light” and “No Engine Brakes” coming SOUTHBOUND from Golf Course Rd. The speed limit is 50 km/h all the way north AND south to past Golf Course Rd (northbound) and all the way to Hwy 60 (southbound). A school bus stops at the top of the hill across from Homestead Lane. Living at the base of the hill, traffic are speeding up at the base of the hill northbound and do not slow southbound until the flashing school zone lights. Pulling out into traffic in winter is dangerous due to visibility and speeders in both directions.
You have created so much extra traffic from new development over many years and no upgrades to road infrastructure on MR3 North has happened with increased heavy truck traffic.
Now we are contending with electric skateboards, electric scooters, people who walk on the wrong side of the road with headphones on or cell phones in hand. (Yes there is a correct side of the road to walk on and it is facing oncoming traffic in the lane closest to you, not with your back to it).
If you cannot make it to your destination by doing the speed limit, leave earlier. Let’s have everyone get to their destination safely.