Kirby Road Extension Design-Build
Kirby Road Extension between Dufferin and Bathurst streets
The City of Vaughan continues to focus its efforts on ensuring an efficient and reliable transportation network that gets citizens where they need to go in a safe and sustainable way. To accommodate population growth and move people throughout Vaughan seamlessly, the City is extending Kirby Road between Dufferin and Bathurst streets.
When complete, the newly extended Kirby Road will feature:
- Four lanes (two for each direction)
- A new bridge structure crossing the East Patterson Creek
- Connections to a future underpass trail crossing at East Patterson Creek
- An in-boulevard multi-use pathway on the north and south sides of Kirby Road for cyclists and pedestrians
- Drainage improvements by storm sewer and culverts
- Enhanced roadway lighting
- Intersection improvements
- Updated traffic signals
The extension of Kirby Road is a strategic growth-related transportation infrastructure project that forms part of broader improvements in the City’s planned street network as identified in the Transportation Master Plan – A New Path, 2012 , the North Vaughan and New Communities Transportation Master Plan, 2019 and the City of Vaughan Official Plan, 2010.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is the City of Vaughan extending Kirby Road in this area?
The Kirby Road Extension will provide the link from east Vaughan to west Richmond Hill and is expected to make it easier for people to get to and through the neighbourhood while reducing traffic congestion. The Kirby Road Extension will shorten travel times and will provide additional pedestrian options for everyone living and working in the area. It will also offer access to enhanced cycling networks and future transit services integration. It will also help improve emergency services response times to the community.
Will extending Kirby Road ease traffic in the area?
Yes. Those travelling to and through Kirby Road are currently restricted to use Teston Road or King Vaughan Road as their east-west connector road between Dufferin and Bathurst streets. The absence of the Kirby Road Extension contributes to more congestion in key signalized intersections along the way. Traffic and development in and around the area will continue to grow into 2022 and beyond and will eventually exceed the capacity of the existing road network. Extending Kirby Road between Dufferin and Bathurst streets will relieve that pressure.
Why is this project a priority for the City?
The extension of Kirby Road from Dufferin Street to Bathurst Street contributes to Vaughan Council’s 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan objective to create fully connected and integrated communities by undertaking initiatives to improve the municipal road network, support the development of transit and increase active transportation through cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
How long will the construction of the Kirby Road extension take?
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2023 with anticipated completion in late 2025. These are estimated timelines and are subject to change. Updates about the project and construction timelines will be posted here on this project webpage and shared with the community regularly, so check back often.
Will construction of the Kirby Road Extension be disruptive to the community?
The City is committed to implementing measures that will help lessen construction impacts. Some of the proposed measures to manage any noise that may occur during the construction include:
- complying with noise limits set by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and the City’s local noise control by-law.
- using construction equipment that meets the requirements of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
- preventing unnecessary noise and vibration by maintaining equipment in proper working condition, including using non-defective muffler systems, properly securing various construction components and keeping moving parts well lubricated.
- restricting the use of equipment to the minimum necessary to perform the specified work.
- minimizing excessive idling of construction vehicles.
Will there be any other disruptions to the community?
The City is committed to minimizing impacts during and after construction. During construction, there may be temporary disruptions to intersections at Dufferin Street and Kirby Road or Bathurst Street and Kirby Road. Detours or delays may be put in place, but will be announced well in advance and will have detailed signage.
What will Kirby Road look like once complete?
The conceptual design of the Kirby Road Extension includes a four-lane urban road (two lanes for each direction) for traffic with a three-metre-wide, multi-use pathway on both sides of Kirby Road for pedestrians and cyclists, street lighting and streetscaping.
What will be the speed limit for Kirby Road?
The proposed post speed limit for Kirby Road is 60 kilometres per-hour.
How was it determined that an extension is necessary?
In 2015, the City permited Rizmi Holding Limited to undertake an Environmental Assessment Study for the Kirby Road Extension between Dufferin Street to Bathurst Street (PDF). The study was completed in 2019 and the Notice of Study Completion, Sept. 19, 2019 (PDF) was filed with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Schaeffers Consulting Engineers was the consultant retained to lead the study and an extensive public consultation process. The Kirby Road Extension Environmental Assessment Study was finalized by Council in June 2020.
What is an Environmental Assessment (EA)?
An EA is a planning and decision-making tool used to predict the environmental effects of proposed initiatives before they are carried out. An EA:
- identifies potential adverse environmental effects.
- proposes measures to mitigate adverse environmental effects.
- predicts whether there will be significant adverse environmental effects after mitigation measures are implemented including a follow-up program to verify the accuracy of the EA and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.
What did the EA for the Kirby Road Extension include?
The EA study report provides:
- a background to the study.
- an overview of the consultation process.
- the need and justification for the study.
- a description of existing conditions.
- the alternative solutions and design concepts.
- a description of the suggested bridge design.
- a summary of anticipated impacts and suggested mitigation measures to implement prior to, during and after construction.
How can I request project updates?
If you would like to receive updates about this project, email infrastructure.delivery@vaughan.ca and request to be added to the mailing list.