��������

Halton Region is gearing up for decades of major new public works commitments, with 2026 shaping up to be a peak year for near-term spending and long-range projects mapped out in a new 25-year plan designed to support rapid growth.

David Olsen, manager of capital engineering and construction with the regional government, told members of the Hamilton-Halton ��������ion Association at their annual ��������ion Forecast event that the region’s capital spending forecast over the next 10 years could top $7 billion.

The total combines public works spending for new development and on state-of-good-repair (SOGR), and comes with the caveat that funding sources must be confirmed, Olsen said.

The 2026 capital program on water, wastewater and transportation calls for $1.18 billion in spending, including tenders for 30 kilometres of wastewater mains, 26 kilometres of watermains, 30 kilometres of roadways, five pump stations and nine treatment plants.

The 44 proposed project bundles set for tender in 2026 represent the biggest spending package of the next three years, with 33 project bundles targeted for 2027 and 27 for 2028.

Long-range spending is now guided by the region’s Integrated Growth Management Strategy, approved by regional council last fall. Public works infrastructure will need to scale up dramatically to accommodate almost a near doubling in population in the next 25 years, Olsen told the HHCA audience – to 1.1 million, from its current 660,000.

“The region has been and will continue to collaborate with the local municipalities, Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills, to implement strategies that align with their growth visions and programs,” Olsen said.

In the next 10 years, Olsen said, Halton’s plan for projected works includes $2.5 billion for linear water and wastewater, $865 million for vertical water and wastewater, $1 billion million for water and wastewater treatment, $2.5 billion for transportation and $140 million for waste management.

Projects to accommodate new development alone add up to $5.12 billion.

One project targeted for tendering in 2026 will require extra mitigation measures to minimize the impact on commercial stakeholders, Olsen said.

The Acton Watermain and Wastewater Main Replacements job is an SOGR project with a budget of $16 million, slated for Commerce Crescent. It involves the replacement of a 300-millimetre cast iron watermain with a 300-millimetre PVC pipe by open cut, and replacement of a 250-millimetre vitrified clay wastewater main with a 250-millimetre PVC pipe by open cut. Tendering will be in Q2.

“This project is located in a heavy business and industrial area, therefore traffic control and co-ordination will be very important in order to maintain access to businesses during construction activities,” stated Olsen.

Among the major public works improvements slated for 2026 are the following:

• Oakville water and wastewater: ��������ion along North Service Road East, Eighth Line, Falgarwood Drive, Invicta Drive. Approximate budget $40 million, 3.5 kilometres of watermain installation, four kilometres of wastewater main, one kilometre of tunnelling, three kilometres of road reconstruction, stormwater work (Town of Oakville). Prequalification Q2, tenders in Q3.
• Burloak Booster Pump Station Phase 1: Watermain work on Burloak Drive and Wyecroft Road. Budget $200 million. New water booster pump station, 3.8 kilometres of 1050-millimetre watermain on Burloak Drive, 2.6 kilometres of 900-millimetre watermain on Wyecroft Road, Burloak Drive urbanization, northbound lanes to Bronte Creek Provincial Park. Prequal Q1, tender Q2.
• Three wastewater pumping station upgrades: Budget $7 million, SOGR project. Replacements include lift pumps, electrical enclosure, concrete rehabilitation, landscaping upgrades, new SCADA instrumentation. Prequalification Q1, tender Q2.
• Oakville transportation and water/wastewater linear infrastructure: Trafalgar Road widening from Dundas Street to Highway 407. Budget $65.2 million. Q4 tender.
• Burlington transportation and water/wastewater linear infrastructure: Dundas Street widening from Guelph Line to Kerns Road. Q4 tender, budget $74.7 million.
• Water and wastewater linear infrastructure: Watermain and wastewater main along Steeles Avenue and surrounding roadways. Budget $82.2 million. Q2 tender.
• Watermain and wastewater main replacements: Eighth Line, Derry Road, Britannia Road. Budget $80 million. Q3 tender.
• Lower Base Line wastewater pumping station: Tender Q4 2026 or Q1 2027. Budget $380.5 million.

Anticipated 2027 tenders:

• Watermain and wastewater main replacements: Harvester Road and Queensway Drive corridor; also Fourth Line, Fifth Line, Lower Base Line, south of Britannia Road.
• Glenashton Water Pumping Station and reservoir upgrades.
• New wastewater pumping station: Steeles Avenue west of Winston Churchill Boulevard.
• Ninth Line widening: Steeles Avenue to Tenth Side Road.
• Dundas Street widening: Guelph Line to Appleby Line.

Olsen told HHCA members due to changes in the ��������ion Act, including new regulations on statutory holdbacks and prompt payment, as well as to meet other needs, the region has made revisions to its standard construction contracts.