Province investing millions in Barrie infrastructure to support new housing

The province is investing millions for infrastructure improvements meant to help spur the development of new homes in the south end of Barrie.

The province is providing the City of Barrie with a multi-million dollar investment for infrastructure improvements meant to help spur the development of new homes.

On Thursday the Ford government announced an investment of just over $18.5 million that it says will help facilitate the construction of 11,900 homes.

According to Mayor Alex Nuttall, the funds will cover approximately half the cost of a planned project to redevelop the roadway at the Mapleview Dr. E. and Yonge St. intersection.

“There’s piles of traffic there already and we know there’s going to be a lot more homes built in that area,” Nuttall said. “So we’re incredibly thankful for this massive check that’s going to obviously alleviate some of the stress on Barry taxpayers and allow for this project to go ahead in a in a more timely manner.”

The funds are coming through a $400 million provincial program that is meant to “build, repair and maintain municipal roads, bridges and culverts that will promote housing growth,” according to a news release from Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin.

The project will modernize the Mapleview and Yonge Intersection and widen the roadway to four lanes between Yonge and Prince William Way.

This is just the latest housing related investment in Barrie from the province. In March 2024, the province provided the City with approximately $6.3 million followed by another million dollars towards the end of the year to support housing needs for the planned Lakehead University campus in the downtown core.

“We haven’t had this type of support before,” Nuttall said. “We haven’t been a focal point of success when it comes to infrastructure projects and getting housing built and getting jobs here. And so really just want to say thank you to the province of Ontario and our local representatives and you know, for really delivering for us.”

The mayor says staff will now work to get the project to tender. The project’s page on the City’s website says construction could start later this year.