James A Gifford Causeway

Introduction
The County of Peterborough has retained BT Engineering Inc./ Entuitive to complete the design for the rehabilitation of the James A. Gifford Causeway, County Road 14 (Yankee Line) and Chemong Bridge. Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) funding has been obtained by the County to fund these projects.

Project Process
Project 1: The County Road 14 (Yankee Line) rehabilitation is being conducted as a Schedule A+ Environmental Assessment (EA) Study under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) (2015). Schedule A+ projects are pre-approved for construction, with mandatory public notification of the project. The rehabilitation will consider active (cycling and walking) transportation and road surface drainage improvements.

Project 2: A Schedule C EA was completed for the James A. Gifford Causeway rehabilitation in 2012. The proposed design will include active transportation and road surface improvements as recommended by the EA.

Project 3: The Chemong Bridge project will involve major rehabilitation of the bridge superstructure (bridge deck, railing, sidewalk, etc.) to achieve a minimum 35-year extension of service life to the bridge. Traffic will be maintained across the bridge during construction by means of single-lane traffic control signals. The proposed rehabilitation is classified as Schedule A+ under the MCEA (2015)

Public Consultation
Public consultation will be facilitated by means of Public Information Centre(s) and Community Engagement Meetings. The format of these events will be subject to the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 Emergency Measures in place at the time.

There is an opportunity at any time during the Class EA process for interested persons to provide comments. Early identification of individual and group concerns greatly aids in addressing these concerns. All information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (2009). With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. Notice of the PIC(s) will be provided by means of a Notice placed in local newspapers and directly by means of email and letters to those providing their contact information to one of the Project Managers listed below.

For more information, or to be placed on the project’s email/postal mailing list or if you wish to be removed from the contact list, please contact either:

Steve Taylor, P. Eng
Consultant Project Manager
BT Engineering Inc.
100 Craig Henry Drive, Suite 201
Ottawa, ON K2G 5W3
P: 613-228-4813
E: steven.taylor@bteng.ca

Peter Nielsen, CET
Project Manager, Capital Projects
County of Peterborough
470 Water Street 
Peterborough, ON K9H 3M3
P: 705-775-2737 ext. 3200
E: pnielsen@ptbocounty.ca

Dear Property Owner,

As you may be aware, the County of Peterborough has recently completed the second and final season of construction for improvements to the James A. Gifford Causeway. Along with the construction works, walleye monitoring which began in the spring of 2019 will continue in the coming months.

What will be happening?

Continuing with the data collection program initiated last year, the County of Peterborough in partnership with Curve Lake First Nation will be monitoring the status of the walleye in Chemong Lake for the next 3 years. This spring you may see County consultants along with Curve Lake First Nation community members collecting information on walleye that inhabit and spawn in nearshore areas of Chemong Lake along the Causeway shoreline.

As part of this study, water quality and night monitoring will occur during the months of April and May. Water quality will be captured using data logging equipment placed on the lakebed and in previously identified ideal spawning habitat. The sampling procedures we use are not harmful to the fish.

It is very important for your safety and for the integrity of our programs that the equipment is not disturbed. Signs will be placed at both ends of the Gifford Causeway notifying the public about the fish monitoring in progress.

How will this impact you?

During the evening while we are performing the monitoring, you may see monitors traveling by boat and counting the number of walleye observed using spot light style lighting equipment. Generally, workers could be on-site between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m.

We wanted you to be aware in advance, so that you are not concerned if you see workers and lights throughout the night.

How does COVID-19 affect environmental monitoring?

Peterborough County is taking actions to help protect the health of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a number of protection measures and resources are available on our website: www.ptbocounty.ca

The provincial government has indicated that “businesses that support environmental management/monitoring” are considered essential services. As such, and in consultation with all involved stakeholders, our spring 2021 monitoring program will

continue and include measures to ensure the health and safety of our employees and the public.

Changes to this year’s work plan include:

• Creation of a Vessel Guidance Protocol for Managing Coronavirus Disease (COVD-19);
• A project-specific health and safety document based on consultation with Transport Canada and information provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention;
• Education of all staff regarding COVID-19 transmission and best practices, including the importance of social/physical distancing at all times during field work;
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) specific to minimizing the transfer and survival of the COVID-19 virus; and
• Frequent disinfection of the monitoring vessel.

Should accommodations to the work plan be required to comply with changing provincial or federal policies, these changes will be discussed with all stakeholders and these changes communicated to the public.

As we move forward, please be assured that all information updates will be shared with the public and will also be posted to our website on a webpage dedicated to the James A. Gifford Causeway at: www.ptbocounty.ca/GiffordCauseway

If you have any questions, please email us at GiffordCauseway@ptbocounty.ca

February 26, 2021 – There will be some movement around the Gifford Causeway March 1 and 2, 2021. The County in partnership with BEL Rotary will be relocating the gazebo located at the BEL Rotary Park.  The relocation is needed to provide clear access to the area for Drain Bros. to complete the fill and fish habitat work at the Causeway.  Redpath Crane Service will be lifting the gazebo from its’ site and moving it to provide better access for Drain Bros. to complete the work. 

“We’d like to thank BEL Rotary for their willingness to work with the County to support getting this work done”, said County Warden J. Murray Jones.  “We will work with BEL Rotary to ensure the gazebo is in its existing condition and placed back on site after the work is done”. 

“BEL Rotary is pleased to work with the County to support getting this important work done”, said Mike Richardson of BEL Rotary.  “We look forward to the completion of this phase of the work and to the ability to enjoy the park and gazebo in the future”.

We urge the public to stay out of the gazebo once it is temporarily moved for your safety.  Signage will be placed on site accordingly.

Background:

Drain Bros. Excavating Limited has been contracted by the County to complete the rockfill base phase of the Gifford Causeway Project.  Next phases planned for later in 2021 include the rehabilitation of Robinson Road westerly to Boundary Road and Causeway and Bridge Rehabilitation work to be completed in 2022. 

For further information, contact: Sheridan Graham at sgraham@ptbocounty.ca

Sheridan Graham, CAO, Deputy Clerk/Deputy Treasurer

Peterborough County

705-743-0380 ext. 2500

What’s planned for the winter of 2021?

This winter the work won’t be as extensive as last year, so you may not see work being done every day by Drain Bros.

The work planned this winter is:

• 3 - 9 metre culvert extensions with rock base placement and turbidity curtain
• 9 - armour stone Lunker structures to create overhead cover and resting areas for fish
• 18 - tree stump structures to create resting areas for fish
• vegetated rock revetment area near BEL Rotary Park
• rock settlement repairs
• environmental monitoring

Some of this work is best done when the water is lowest, so may be done a little later this winter.

Thanks to everyone for your patience as we work on this important multi-year project!

Please be advised that construction of the rock fill widening of the James A. Gifford Causeway (County Road 14) will recommence on or about December 7, 2020, continuing until March 15, 2021. Work to be completed includes the completion of fish habitat enhancement measures, culvert repairs and other related activities.

There will be periods of time when short duration traffic lane closures will be in effect on the Causeway to accommodate the movement of construction materials and equipment.

This is the second phase of the construction of a rock fill (widening) platform. Upon completion of this phase, rehabilitation of the existing 2-lane roadway is anticipated to commence in 2022.

Please note that these dates may fluctuate due to weather constraints and other factors. Every effort will be made to keep agencies and residents informed of any significant changes. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

What will be happening?

The fish sanctuary in the vicinity of the James A. Gifford Causeway will be in effect from November. 16^th to December. 31^st.

How will this impact you?

A fish sanctuary identifies an area of protected waters, where fishing by land or by boat is illegal during the specified time. It is the water that is designated as a fish sanctuary,

Enforcement will be in place by Conservation Officers and charges will be laid if people are fishing during this period in this area. Notice is given with appropriate signage placed in the designated Fish sanctuary. See attached photo.

Thanks in advance for your support and respect of this process.

Construction work continues on the James A. Gifford Causeway.  We’d like to thank the public for their ongoing patience during this project. 

In order to expedite the construction schedule, work hours have been extended to include 6:30am to 6:00pm.  Temporary flood lights have been installed to improve visibility during these extended hours.

As traffic fluctuates throughout the day, delays can be expected during high volume times, particularly between 7am and 9am.

Please be advised that construction of the rock fill widening of the James A. Gifford Causeway (County Road 14) will commence on Monday, November 18, 2019, continuing until March 15, 2020. Additional construction activities will continue through the fall and winter of 2020/2021.

As the result of water temperature levels in Chemong Lake reaching the optimum range of less than five (5) degrees Celsius, construction has been authorized to proceed earlier than anticipated.

Please note that these dates may fluctuate due to weather constraints and other factors. Every effort will be made to keep agencies and residents informed of any significant changes. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes work taking place on the Causeway Project.  County Staff, Engineering Consultants, the Contractor and First Nations representatives have been working together on various aspects of the project. The Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) permit we have received does not allow any in-work water to proceed until the water temperature is consistently between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius.  The temperature is being monitored closely and once this level has been reached, in-water work will begin at the east end of the Causeway, which will see the construction of a rock jetty, and then progress from east to west.  Over the next few weeks you will see various activities taking place at the Causeway as we prepare for this work to begin.

The DFO permit has been received and work on Phase 1 (the rock fill, base stabilization) of the James A. Gifford Causeway Improvement Plan is expected to begin late October/early November. 

Phase 1 involves the placement of rock on the south side of the Causeway. This project is fully funded by Peterborough County and is not tied to any external funding. 

Watch the latest County Connection video for more information.

The County is planning to begin rock base widening on the J.A. Gifford Causeway in October 2019. County Council awarded the tender to Drain Brothers Excavating and will begin work in October/November 2019. The project involves the placement of rock on the south side of the Causeway.

The County will be providing advance notice of our exact start date closer to that time.

Click the "Receive Email Updates" button below to receive email notifications of updates to this page. 

What will be happening?

The County of Peterborough in partnership with Curve Lake First Nation will be monitoring the status of the walleye in Chemong Lake for the next 5 years.

This spring you may see County consultants along with Curve Lake First Nation community members collecting information on walleye that inhabit and spawn in nearshore areas of Chemong Lake along the Causeway and eastern shoreline.

As part of this study,water quality, egg collection and night monitoring will occur during the month of April. Water quality will be captured using data logging equipment placed on the lake bed. The sampling procedures we use are not harmful to the fish.

It is very important for your safety and for the integrity of our programs that the equipment is not disturbed. Signs will be placed at both ends of the Gifford Causeway notifying the public about the fish monitoring in progress.

How will this impact you?

During the evening while we are performing the monitoring you may see monitors traveling by boat and counting the number of walleye observed using spot light style lighting equipment. Generally, workers could be onsite between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. We wanted you to be aware in advance, so that you are not concerned if you see workers and lights throughout the night.

If you have any questions please email us at GiffordCauseway@ptbocounty.ca

Today at Council Council, Council reaffirmed its' commitment to move forward with the James A. Gifford Causeway short-term infrastructure improvements which include:

Short Term Improvement

Other long term infrastructure plans will be reviewed as part of the Transportation Master Plan update 2019-2020.

The County of Peterborough in partnership with Curve Lake First Nation will be monitoring the status of the walleye in Chemong Lake for the next 5 years. This spring you may see County consultants along with Curve Lake First Nation community members collecting information on walleye that inhabit and spawn in nearshore areas of Chemong Lake along the Causeway and eastern shoreline.

As part of this study, water quality, egg collection and night monitoring will occur during the month of April.  Water quality will be captured using data logging equipment placed on the lakebed. The sampling procedures we use are not harmful to the fish.

It is very important for your safety and for the integrity of our programs that the equipment is not disturbed. Signs will be placed at both ends of the Gifford Causeway notifying the public about the fish monitoring in progress.

How will this impact you?

During the evening while we are performing the monitoring you may see monitors traveling by boat and counting the number of walleye observed using spot light style lighting equipment. Generally, workers could be onsite between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m.

We wanted you to be aware in advance, so that you are not concerned if you see workers and lights throughout the night.

As we move forward, please be assured that all information updates will be shared with the public and will also be posted to this webpage.  Watch our Fish Monitoring Video:

County Council adopted in principle the County’s Strategic Asset Management Policy and Asset Management Plan.

The Strategic Asset Management Policy and Asset Management Plan are legislative requirements in Ontario Regulation 588/17 under the Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act, 2015. Both the policy and plan will guide the County during budget and other long term financial planning decisions.

Strategic Asset Management Policy

The Asset Management Plan (AMP) has these goals:

1. Compliance with Ontario Regulation 588/17
2. Identify the work needed to maintain the County’s infrastructure at current levels, and at the lowest possible cost
3. Identify the work needed to meet capacity demands
4. Present options to fund the identified needs
5. Articulate risks if needs are not funded
6. Operationalize asset management by ensuring the processes, people and systems are in place for ongoing improvements

The plan covers all assets owned by the County valued at $5,000 or greater including Engineered Structures (Bridges and Culverts), Roads, Cross Culverts (less than 3m dia.), Facilities, Equipment, Traffic Signals, Forests, Trails and the Landfill.

Growth related Infrastructure needs are covered in the Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The TMP is a comprehensive assessment of the County’s current and future transportation system improvement needs. It includes recommendations for new / improved infrastructure (e.g. roads, transit, cycling, walking), operational design standards, and transportation policies.  The TMP was last updated in 2014 with an updated plan in 2019.

Council’s approval of the Asset Management Plan (AMP) acknowledges the following:

• Current asset inventory

• Current condition of assets

• 10 year capital needs analysis

• Current funding levels

• Financial analysis

• The funding gap

The AMP identifies a gap of approximately $52 million between funding currently being set aside, and what will be needed to fund the maintenance of County infrastructure over the next 10 years. The adoption of the AMP in principle, does not commit the County to fully funding the identified infrastructure funding gap, but does acknowledge that a plan must be in place by July 1, 2024.

Council also directed staff that in consideration of the infrastructure and funding requirements identified in the budget and the Asset Management Plan, a report be returned to Council providing updated costs to complete the widening and rehabilitation of the James A. Gifford Causeway and for staff to provide recommendations on how costs could be reduced.  Staff will be bringing this report to the March 20^th meeting of County Council.

While no official date has yet been set for the commencement of this project, Peterborough County staff continue to work with Department of Fisheries and Oceans and other partners through an established process that, when complete, will allow us to move forward with the project.

The work planned is to expand the rock base of the Causeway to reinforce the base of the roadway. This is the first phase of a multi-year plan for the James A. Gifford Causeway. The rock expansion contract has been awarded to Drain Bros. Excavating with rock fill being placed on the south side of the Causeway.  The rock expansion project is a multi-year contract and it is anticipated that the work will continue throughout the winter and will extend through 2019 and 2020.

Upon completion of the rock expansion project, rehabilitation of the asphalt surface of the 2-lane Causeway is planned to be completed.

Traffic control will be provided with a reduction to one-lane at points along the Causeway throughout the project.  The public can follow the progress of the project on this webpage as well as through social media (Facebook @PtboCounty and Twitter @PtboCounty).

We would like to thank the public for their patience throughout this important project on the County’s busiest roadway.