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This work is part of the Council-approved Capital Budget to renew aging city roads, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, watermains, and sidewalk for current and future needs. See the map of the work area below.
This letter is a follow up to the letter dated June 24, 2024 titled: “Sod Placement Notice”. This confirms that the sod placed at or near your property is being handed over to you, the resident or business/property owner. You are responsible for care and maintenance of the sod from the date of this letter forward.
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Map of work area
Sod handover date: Aug. 23, 2024
The care and maintenance of the newly placed sod is now handed over to become the resident/business/property owner’s responsibility. Please visit the Nursery Sod Growers Association of Ontario to find out best practices for sod care and maintenance. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Project Manager listed at the end of this notice.
Resident watering
We encourage residents and business/property owners to continue watering the sod (adhering to the Region of Waterloo water use by-law). Watering will help the sod to establish and give it the best chances to thrive. It can take several years for sod to fully establish.
Lawn mowing and grass cutting
The resident or property/business owner is responsible for continuing to cut and maintain the grass. It must be a height of 75mm (or 3 inches) and not any shorter. We encourage you to raise your mower height to the highest possible, which helps the new sod continue to grow. This also gives it the best chance to survive through hot weather and droughts over the course of the following 2 years.
Fertilizer, aeration and overseeding
A year after the installation of sod, in springtime the contractor is responsible to fertilize, aerate and overseed the newly sodded areas from the previous construction year.
Tree planting
The City’s Forestry division will send out a separate notice for the tree planting plan. It is typical that tree planting is one of the last items completed on the project. Trees are typically planted after restoration of sod is placed. Please look for the notice from the Forestry division for more information.
Need more information?
If you have questions about the upcoming work, please contact us.
City Project Manager
Eric Costa
519-588-5106 (TTY:1-866-969-9994)
eric.costa@kitchener.ca
Engineering General inquiries
519-741-2406
Thank you for your continued patience.
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As a follow-up to the letter dated October 23, 2023, please be advised the City’s hired contractor has met their contractual obligations as it relates to the care and rectification of the newly sodded areas with the stage 1 project limits (Highland Road East from Queen’s Boulevard to approximately 119 Highland Road East).
With the contractor now excused from the watering and maintenance of the newly sodded areas, it is now the property owner’s responsibility to continue the watering, maintenance and care of these newly sodded areas, as required.
After construction, settlement may occur, meaning the soil over the area that was dug up has settled. Should settlement occur, rectification of the depression will happen during the project two-year maintenance period.
Please note new sod can may take up to two years to fully root and establish itself. The weather sun exposure and such can impact the establishment and health of young sod. We encourage property owners to continue periodic watering, care and maintenance of the sod going forward.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact the city’s Project Manager at eric.costa@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2200 ext. 7414.
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The Highland Road new street design is Kitchener’s most ‘complete street’ to date, because it has something for everyone. Whether residents are walking, rolling, cycling, taking transit or driving, they will have a safe experience through progressive street design features.
One of the first in the province, Highland Road introduces a new street design feature called continuous sidewalks. Continuous sidewalks communicate to people walking and rolling that they have an uninterrupted travel path while also communicating to people driving that they are to yield to people walking and rolling. The treatment reinforces that pedestrians have the legal right-of-way by keeping the sidewalk continuous and at pedestrian height. This is the reverse of a conventional local street intersection, where the sidewalk ends, and pedestrians must cross the paved roadway between two white crosswalk lines. This new design is described as an emerging practice in Canada by the Transportation Association of Canada, with benefits for pedestrian safety, comfort, and accessibility.
In addition to the continuous sidewalks, three new pedestrian refuge islands were added to provide a pedestrian crossing every 150 m, making it much easier to cross the street to access public transit. At the signalized intersection at Spadina Rd. E., the right turn channels were removed, to slow turning speeds and make more direct pedestrian crossings.
“I’m pleased to see a road reconstruction project so directly benefiting neighbourhood residents,” said Ward 9 Councillor Debbie Chapman. “The reconstruction of Highland Road is a great example of how we can address our transportation goals while improving residents’ experience on our roadways.”
The most immediately recognizable change on Highland Rd is the addition of fully separated cycle tracks. Cycling facilities didn’t exist previously; today people can cycle safely and comfortably on cycle tracks next to the sidewalk.
Finally, the strategic relocation of on-street parking opened up boulevard space for new tree plantings, previously absent in the boulevards due to an overly wide asphalt width.
“The project on Highland Rd is a great example of our new approach to road reconstruction, our commitment to traffic safety, and our adoption of world-class design standards,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “Our ‘complete streets’ guidelines are an important framework that ensures that the streets we are building, and the existing streets that we’re reconstructing both represent the highest standard, ensuring that everyone in our community can get to where they’re going safely.”
The remainder of the Highland Road reconstruction has resumed, completing the section between Delaware and Stirling streets. Continuous sidewalks are an important design element that will be represented in many of Kitchener’s future road projects as they are rebuilt using complete streets guidelines. Complete streets are an important part of how the City of Kitchener will achieve its Vision Zero goal of eliminating serious injuries or deaths due to traffic collisions.
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We know it’s been some time since we’ve been in contact. We wanted to reconnect with you to see if you have any feedback, concerns or questions. If you’re curious about the construction work, we’re doing, or what work is happening next, we can answer your questions.
The construction inspector is the first person to contact on site. If you require special access to your property for moving, or are waiting for a special delivery, give the inspector enough notice so your request can be accommodated, if possible.
We know the work during a reconstruction project is an inconvenience for you to get to your property. Please let us know if you need more temporary parking passes. We hope your waste is collected on the regular day as normal, and that you’ve been able to place your waste by the curbside by 7 a.m. The contractor should be relocating your waste as required and returning any containers belonging to you in a timely fashion. If there are any issues, please let us know.
Starting this week, Sousa Construction will begin the next phase of the Highland Road East reconstruction project. This work will take place between Delaware Ave and Stirling Ave South with some additional surface works happening on Delaware Ave. Over the next couple of weeks residents may notice intermittent interruptions to water service as a temporary watermain bypass is installed. Currently the entire project is scheduled for completion by July 2024.
We’re happy to meet with you, or discuss by phone, any concerns, or questions that you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact the city’s project manager, manager Eric Costa at eric.costa@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2200 ext. 7414.
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The city’s contractor has replaced the topsoil and sod on or adjacent to properties on Highland Road East from Spadina to Delaware as well as Delaware Avenue. The contractor will now be required to provide ongoing maintenance, including watering of the sodded areas until June 14, 2024 (notwithstanding a suspension of this requirement during a winter dormant period of Nov 15 to April 15 inclusive). After which time, it is the property owner’s responsibility to continue the watering and maintenance as required.
The city will inspect the condition of the newly sodded area just prior to the date noted above, and the contractor will be required to replace any identified deteriorated sod. After this inspection and the replacement of any deteriorated sod, the care and maintenance of the sod will become the homeowner’s responsibility.
Occasionally, after construction, depression trench settlement may occur, meaning the soil over the area that was dug up had settled. This may occur in the sodded areas or elsewhere on this project and is covered under the two-year warranty period. Please note, new sod can may take up to two years to fully root and establish itself. The weather, sun exposure can impact how well young sod takes root. We encourage property owners to continue periodic watering (adhering to the Region of Waterloo water-use bylaw, found at regionofwaterloo.ca/conservation), and care and maintenance after the end of the sod warranty.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact the city’s project manager by phone at 519-741-2200 ext. 7414 or by email at eric.costa@kitchener.ca.
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As part of the completion of the reconstruction of Highland Road, the city’s contractor has replaced the topsoil and sod on or adjacent to your property. The contractor will now be required to provide ongoing maintenance, including watering of the sodded areas until May 23, 2024, (notwithstanding a suspension of this requirement during a winter dormant period of Nov. 15 to Apr. 15 inclusive). After which time, it is the property owner’s responsibility to continue the watering and maintenance as required.
The city will inspect the condition of the newly sodded area just prior to the date noted above, and the contractor will be required to replace any identified deteriorated sod. After this inspection and the replacement of any deteriorated sod, the care and maintenance of the sod will become the homeowner’s responsibility.
Occasionally, after construction, depression trench settlement may occur, meaning the soil over the area that was dug up had settled. This may occur in the sodded areas or elsewhere on this project and is covered under the two-year warranty period. Please note, new sod can may take up to two years to fully root and establish itself. The weather, sun exposure can impact how well young sod takes root. We encourage property owners to continue periodic watering (adhering to the Region of Waterloo water-use bylaw, found at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/conservation), and care and maintenance after the end of the sod warranty.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact the city’s project manager by phone at 519-741-2200 ext. 7414 or by email at eric.costa@kitchener.ca.
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Please be advised that on or about October 26, 2023, crews will begin working on string line setup for upcoming installation of concrete curb and gutter to follow on Stage 2 of Highland Road Reconstruction.
Driveway Access during Concrete Work
The contractor estimates that driveway access will be lost for about 3-5 weeks while concrete curb and gutter, concrete sidewalk, concrete driveway ramps and asphalt road paving is planned to occur. The duration of lost driveway access is due to several factors including:
- time required for crews to complete their work,
- time required for concrete to properly cure to reach its proper strength,
- subcontractor’s schedule,
- and other unforeseen factors such as weather.
Crews will work diligently to complete this work in a timely manner. Wood planks/bridges may be constructed at various points along the site, by the contractor, over the newly poured concrete sidewalks to provide pedestrian access to properties.
On Street Parking
During reconstruction, temporary parking permits have been issued to displaced residents to allow on-street parking when needed. The permits list streets for parking options as you will be permitted to park longer than 3 hours and overnight. Permits are to be displayed on the dash of your vehicle. Ensure that your vehicle is parked in permitted areas only and that you do not interfere with any construction operations. We communicate with the Bylaw Enforcement team to ensure residents displaced by construction are noted, although illegal parking and/or safety related issues will continue to be enforced. If you require parking enforcement, please contact 519-741-2345.If you have any inquiries or require additional permits, please speak to the site inspector for further direction or contact me, the construction project manager, directly.
Accessibility Requirements
If you have not yet reached out to me, please let me know of any accessibility requirements, and we will work together with the contractor to arrange suitable accommodations. This could include (but not limited to) accessibility parking needs, moving in or out of your residence, special deliveries, and other needs.
Curbside Waste Collection
For curbside waste collection, please write your address on all your containers and have out to curbside by 6 a.m. on your collection day. The contractor is responsible to ensure pickup of your waste items and return your containers within a reasonable amount of time after collection occurs.
We’re happy to meet with you or discuss by phone, any concerns, questions or feedback that you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact me, the City’s Project Manager by phone at 519-741-2200 ext. 7414 or by email at eric.costa@kitchener.ca.
Project Team Contact Information
City of Kitchener Project Manager
Eric Costa – 519-741-2200 ext. 7414
Consultant Project Manager – Arcadis
Michael Sampson – 519-577-6758
Consultant Construction Inspector – Arcadis
Matt Stone – 705-801-5776
Contractor – Sousa Concrete
Chris Saraiva – 519-623-5572
Corporate Contact Centre (24 hour)
519-741-2345
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this project.
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Please be advised that on or about September 18, 2023, crews will begin working on string line setup for upcoming installation of concrete curb and gutter to follow on Stage 1 of Highland Road.
Driveway Access during Concrete Work
The contractor estimates that driveway access will be lost for about 3-5 weeks while concrete curb and gutter, concrete sidewalk, concrete driveway ramps and asphalt road paving is planned to occur. The duration of lost driveway access is due to several factors including:
- time required for crews to complete their work
- time required for concrete to properly cure to reach its proper strength
- subcontractor’s schedule
- and other unforeseen factors such as weather
Crews will work diligently to complete this work in a timely manner. Wood planks/bridges may be constructed at various points along the site, by the contractor, over the newly poured concrete sidewalks to provide pedestrian access to properties.
On Street Parking
During reconstruction, temporary parking permits have been issued to displaced residents to allow on-street parking when needed. The permits list streets for parking options as you will be permitted to park longer than 3 hours and overnight. Permits are to be displayed on the dash of your vehicle. Ensure that your vehicle is parked in permitted areas only and that you do not interfere with any construction operations.
We communicate with the Bylaw Enforcement team to ensure residents displaced by construction are noted, although illegal parking and/or safety related issues will continue to be enforced. If you require parking enforcement, please contact 519-741-2345. If you have any inquiries or require additional permits, please speak to the site inspector for further direction or contact me, Eric Costa, the construction project manager, directly.
Accessibility Requirements
If you have not yet reached out to me, please let me know of any accessibility requirements, and we will work together with the contractor to arrange suitable accommodations. This could include (but not limited to) accessibility parking needs, moving in or out of your residence, special deliveries, or other accommodations.
Curbside Waste Collection
For curbside waste collection, please write your address on all your containers and have out to curbside by 6 a.m. on your collection day. The contractor is responsible to ensure pickup of your waste items and return your containers within a reasonable amount of time after collection occurs.
We’re happy to meet with you or discuss by phone, any concerns, questions or feedback that you may have. Please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 519-741-2200 ext. 7414 or by email at eric.costa@kitchener.ca.
If you would like to receive updates for this project as they become available, please subscribe and you will be added to the email list for updates on this project.
Project Team Contact Information
City of Kitchener Project Manager
Eric Costa – 519-588-5106
Consultant Project Manager – Arcadis
Michael Sampson – 519-577-6758
Consultant Construction Inspector – Arcadis
Matt Stone – 705-801-5776
Contractor – Sousa Concrete
Chris Saraiva – 519-623-5572
Corporate Contact Centre (24 hour)
519-741-2345
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this project.
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Here is some information about how we will protect and manage city trees during reconstruction work of Highland Road East between Queens Boulevard and Stirling Avenue South, and Delaware Avenue between Highland Road East and Lorne Crescent.
Existing city trees were assessed during the design phase of this project to identify trees to be preserved and trees to be removed with consideration to their health, risk, or potential long-term contribution to the urban forest. Tree planting opportunities are also identified.
These projects provide an opportunity to make decisions based on a long-term view with the goal of developing a sustainable urban forest. Measures used to protect trees during construction include:
- protective fencing
- special construction practices (e.g. tunneling under trees)
- minimizing the area of disturbance around trees.
We have included a list and map of trees to be removed and new tree plantings below:
The contractor will remove the trees marked for removal shortly after project commencement. Routine and special tree maintenance work may also be performed. This work includes removal of branches that are lower than 14’ (4.3 m) over the road, and 8’ (2.4 m) over the sidewalk. Low branches on private trees that overhang the sidewalk and roadway may also be pruned.
With each new tree that is planted, the City will also provide a watering bag that will be regularly filled by City staff during the growing season (May to October) for the first two years. Regular watering of newly planted trees is the most important step in establishing healthy trees. Adjacent residents are encouraged to give supplemental water during drought periods, and to water the mulch pile and a bit outside the mulch in early years to promote root growth.
If you have any concerns regarding this plan, please contact me directly. For all other construction related inquiries regarding this project, please contact the Project Manager, Eric Costa (eric.costa@kitchener.ca).
Joseph Lance, Forestry Field Technician
joseph.lance@kitchener.ca | 519-741-2600 x4247
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The City of Kitchener has awarded Sousa Concrete the contract for reconstruction work on Highland Road East (Queen’s Boulevard to Stirling Street South), and Delaware Avenue (Lorne Crescent to Highland Road East) is scheduled to start on/or about June 5, 2023 with an anticipated completion on/or about November 30, 2024.
The City of Kitchener has retained an Engineering Consultant to act as Project Manager for this project and they should be your first point of contact should you have any questions, concerns or require special access to your residence during construction. Their contact information can be found in the contact list provided at the end of this letter. However, as the City Project Manager I remain a key point of contact; my contact information has been provided in the contact list. A Construction Inspector will be on site daily while the contractor is working. Should you have any questions or concerns while the work is in progress, the Construction Inspector can be identified by the white hardhat and can be approached at any time or contacted using the number provided in the contact list. Should you experience an after-hours emergency, please contact the 24-hour Contact Centre at 519-741-2345.
The Contractor will start the project with the setup of their temporary watermain and by completing the pre- condition survey.
Pre-Condition Inspection of Structures
On heavy construction projects, it is the City of Kitchener’s standard practice to offer to inspect any buildings that might be affected by construction activities before construction starts. If during or after construction residents/tenants experience any concerns with their property, the information from the pre-construction inspection will prove very helpful in quickly and accurately resolving any claims, should they arise.
The pre-condition inspection will be conducted by Englobe and if they haven’t already, they will be contacting you within the next few days to arrange for this survey. This assessment includes an inspection of the interior and exterior of each property to document the existing condition prior to construction. In large high-rise apartment buildings, the ground floor area will be inspected, but the individual apartment units above will not be inspected.
We appreciate that some tenants/residents may not want a pre-condition inspection of their home and we would like to stress that you are under no obligation to do so. Should this be the case, please advise the representative when they call. Please be advised if the survey is declined and you request it at a later date, the re-mobilization cost will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
You will likely feel some vibrations during the routine operation of construction equipment; however, studies have shown that these vibrations are much less severe than the vibration level likely to cause structural damage. We do recommend that you remove light, fragile or delicate objects from shelves when construction activity is taking place adjacent to your property.
Should you experience any problems during construction, please contact me immediately and I’ll address or direct your concern to the contractor if needed. If immediate action is needed, such as an issue with your services and City Staff or Representatives are not immediately available, you are welcome to contact the contractor directly.
Should situations arise during or after this construction project, the following contact information and telephone numbers are provided for your convenience.
On Street Parking
During reconstruction, temporary parking permits will be issued to displaced residents to allow on-street parking when needed. The permits will list streets for parking options as you will be permitted to park longer than 3 hours and overnight. Permits are to be displayed on the dash of your vehicle. Ensure that your vehicle is parked in permitted areas only and that you do not interfere with any construction operations. We communicate with the Bylaw Enforcement team to ensure residents displaced by construction are noted, although illegal parking and/or safety related issues will continue to be enforced. If you require parking enforcement, please contact 519-741-2345. If you have any inquiries, please speak to the site inspector for further direction
If you would like to receive updates for this project as they become available, please subscribe and you will be added to the email list for updates on this project. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on the project page, then click 'Subscribe'.
Contacts
City of Kitchener Project Manager - Eric Costa – 519-741-2200 ext. 7414
Consultant Project Manager – ARCADIS - Arend Lootsma – 519-585-2255 Ext 63204
Contractor – Sousa Concrete - Ross Sousa – 519-623-5572
Corporate Contact Centre (24 hour) – 519-741-2345
Map: Tree Management and Protection Plan (441 KB) (pdf)
