Springwater Coun. Phil Fisher paints a dystopian image of Midhurst if Craig Road isn’t built in time to handle the influx of residents who will call the village home over the next few years.
“I worry we’re neglecting our responsibility to the community,” Fisher, who represents the village as Ward 5 councillor, said at the township’s recent council meeting. “I highlight this all the time — without finishing off Craig Road, Midhurst will be awash with traffic.
“Without Craig Road there to act as a, we’ll call it a pressure release valve for the traffic, Midhurst is doomed, really,” he added.
Fisher’s dire warning came as staff presented two reports to council — one an information report that provided an update on Craig Road and the other, a request to council to authorize staff to apply for funding under the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) to assist with the construction of the road.
Council approved the MHIP request.
The Craig Road extension, from Russell Road to County Road 27, was recommended under the 2009 Class Environmental Assessment Study.
The road, which will be just under three kilometres long, will be a two-lane arterial roadway and will be the east-west link between Russell Road and County Road 27.
The design and construction of the road is estimated to cost slightly more than $61 million and is proposed to be funded by development charges (DC).
According to the MHIP report, prepared by Scott Haw, manager of roads and fleet for the township, the provincial government announced a $1-billion Housing-Enabling Core Servicing fund to help municipalities build, maintain and repair core assets that will support the construction of new homes in Ontario.
The MHIP — which is a $400-million fund to build, maintain and repair core assets such as roads, bridges and culverts to enable housing opportunities and promote growth — is part of the fund.
Under the program, the province would fund a maximum of 50 per cent (up to $20 million) with the township picking up the remainder and any overruns or escalations.
Municipalities may stack other federal and municipal funding for their 50 per cent minimum contribution, but provincial stacking will not be permitted with the exception of funding received from the Building Faster Fund (BFF) and the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF).
“Should the municipality be approved for MHIP funding, up to a maximum of $20 million, this will greatly assist in moving this project forward,” Haw said in his report.
Funding applications can be submitted for projects that start Sept. 30, 2025 and are completed by March 31, 2028. The deadline for application is Oct. 18.
Applicants will be notified in early 2025 if their application was successful.
Fisher said he’s concerned about the financing of this project. He said the township will end up debt financing this project before development charges pay for it.
“One thing I will say worries me, and worries a few people in the community, those who pay attention,” he said. “If we embark on other projects that start taking away that debt servicing, our ability to borrow, does it come at the expense of Craig Road?
“I don't know the answer to that, but it is starting to be a real worry in the community,” Fisher added.
The Craig Road project has been divided into two phases.
Phase 1 extends from the east project limits on Forbes Road to the west side of Gill Road/ Craig Road intersection.
The detailed design of Phase 1 is approximately 60 per cent complete.
The report noted staff continue to work with engineering consultants and landowners on moving the detailed design forward and anticipate having the full design for Phase 1 completed in 2025.
Phase 2 will extend from the west side of Gill Road west to County Road 27. The detailed design of Phase 2 is currently underway and is progressing well, Haw’s report said.
According to the report, Springwater Township is currently working with the County of Simcoe to acquire the necessary land parcels that form part of this project.
