Three of the GTA’s biggest investors in roads and bridges delivered robust capital forecasts recently, outlining significant boosts in spending during a municipal projects session at the recent Ontario Roadbuilders’ Association conference in Toronto.
ORBA delegates heard York Region will be spending $3.3 billion on road infrastructure over the next 10 years, and the fast-growing Durham Region’s road capital program calls for $146.2 million in projects to be tendered.
The City of Toronto, meanwhile, is embarking on a major ramp-up of municipal infrastructure funding over the next two years – from $1.15 billion in 2026 to $1.93 billion for 2028.
The boost includes a spending spike of $460 million in 2027, to $1.61 billion.
“It’s a fairly dramatic jump,” said Jennifer Graham Harkness, the City of Toronto’s executive director for engineering and construction services.
“As you can see, they’re everywhere and so it requires a high degree of co-ordination,” added Harkness, highlighting a map of upcoming road projects.
The city plans to issue 36 tenders for roadways in 2026 totalling $225 million and 23 tenders for bridges and the expressway valued at $650 million.
Key road projects for 2026 include the Bathurst Street road reconstruction, RFP or tender early 2026; Briar Hill Avenue road reconstruction, RFP or tender mid-2026; Gerrard Street East road reconstruction, RFP or tender mid-2026; Sloane Avenue road reconstruction, RFP or tender mid-2026; and Brimorton Drive road reconstruction, RFP or tender mid-2026.
Important bridge projects include Rockcliffe phase one, RFP or tender mid-2026; Scarlette Road bridge construction, RFP or tender mid-2026; Overlea Bridge and Don Mills road reconstruction, RFP or tender mid-2026; a culvert bundle rehabilitation and replacement, RFP or tender mid-2026; and the Glen Road over ravine bridge rehabilitation, RFP or tender mid-2026.
York Region’s director of capital delivery for transportation and public works projects Salim Alibhai told delegates the region has $322 million targeted for growth roadway infrastructure and asset management projects in 2026.
“We’re looking to you folks to help us out in partnering and delivering these projects,” he said.
York grows
York’s population, currently 1.33 million, is expected to rise to 1.45 million in 2031 and up to 2.06 million by 2051. The 10-year, $3.3-billion roads capital budget includes $1.7 billion to enable that growth and $1.6 billion in asset management.
YORK REGION — Among major recent jobs undertaken by York Region was this Bayview Avenue resurfac-ing project between 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive in the City of Richmond Hill. A regional manager highlighted capital spending in the region at the ORBA conference.
Major projects slated to go to tender in the next two years in York with tentative tender timelines include:
Elgin Mills Road (Bathurst to Yonge). Road widening to four lanes; new active transportation facilities and illumination; drainage improvements; traffic signal, sanitary sewer and watermain upgrades. Cost $61 million; tender Q4.
Kennedy Road (North of Highway 407 to Highway 7). Road widening from four to six lanes for median bus rapid transit; transit stations; active transportation and streetscaping. Cost $95.2 million; tender Q4.
Warden Avenue (Major Mackenzie to Elgin Mills Road). Road widening from rural two lanes to urban four lanes; new active transportation facilities; illumination; traffic signals and AODA upgrades; storm sewer upgrades and streetscaping. Cost $50.1 million; tender Q1 2027.
16th Avenue (Warden to Road). Road widening from four to six lanes for transit/HOV; new bridge at Berczy Creek; extension of Bruce Creek culvert; active transportation; sidewalk; illumination; noise barriers; streetscaping. Cost $71.4 million; tender Q4 2027.
Elgin Mills Road (Railway Crossing Grade Separation, east of Yonge Street). Cost $74.3 million; tender Q4 2027.
Kennedy Road (Major Mackenzie to Elgin Mills Road). Road widening to urban four lanes; new active transportation facilities; illumination; traffic signals and AODA upgrades; storm sewer upgrades; streetscaping. Cost $46.7 million; tender Q4 2027.
Durham carry-overs
Durham Region is also preparing for major growth, the region’s senior project manager in the works department Janet Mosher told ORBA delegates.
The region’s population is currently over 785,000 people, and it’s forecasted to grow to 1.3 million residents by 2051.
The region’s $146-million budget for capital road projects targeted for 2026 includes $44.7 million for road rehabilitation, $44.5 million for growth-related road expansion projects, $23.5 million for bus rapid transit projects and $20.56 million for structure rehabilitation and replacement.
Mosher also outlined several carry-over projects funded from previous budgets that are expected to be tendered in 2026. The five projects identified include road reconstruction, new roundabouts, intersection modifications and bridge replacements in various locations throughout Durham.