Downtown Streetscape Masterplan
Full of character. Welcoming. A strong sense of community. That's what we're striving for in our Downtown.
In October 2022, Council adopted the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan and in March 2024, Council approved a phased approach to implementation and directed staff to begin Phase 1 which includes the section of Dundas between Riddell Street and Wellington Street. Phase 1 is expected to begin March 24 and take approximately 13 weeks. Phase 2 is included in the 2025 Capital Budget and tender documents are currently being finalized.
Detours
Dundas Street will be closed from Victoria Street to Museum Square. However, pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the construction.
Traffic Detour
Traffic should exit Dundas Street at Huron Street and Vansittart Avenue and go north to Ingersoll Avenue.
Details |
| Start date: March 24, 2025 Duration: Approximately 13 weeks Construction area: Dundas Street from the west side of Riddell Street to the east side of Wellington Street Road closures: Dundas Street between Victoria Street and Museum Square. The Dundas Street and Wellington Street intersection will be closed in all directions. Planned detours: Huron Street to Ingersoll Avenue to Vansittart Avenue and vice versa.
|
Transit Detour
The following routes will be affected by the Dundas Street closure. Some stops will be closed, with temporary stops added during the construction period.
| Route 3 - North Central |
|
Start date: March 24, 2025 Area affected: Peel Street between Wellington Street and Young Street Detour route: The Route 3 bus will turn left onto George Street from Wellington Street and travel to Kent Street. Stops closed: One (1)
Temporary stops: Three (3)
|
| Route 4 - Northwest |
|
Start date: March 24, 2025 Area affected: Dundas Street between Oxford Street and the transit terminal. Detour route: The Route 4 bus will travel south on Oxford and turn left onto Simcoe Street and continue down Peel Street before turning left onto Young Street and entering the transit terminal. Stops closed: Five (5)
Temporary stops: Four (4)
|
| Route 5 - Southeast |
| Start date: March 24, 2025
Area affected: Wellington Street north of Peel and Adelaide Street Detour route: The Route 5 bus will travel north on Wellington Street and turn right onto Peel Street, then left onto Young Street before entering the transit terminal. Stops closed: One (1)
Temporary stops: One (1)
|
| Route 6 - Southwest |
|
Start date: March 24, 2025 Area affected: Dundas Street between the transit terminal and Brock Street. Detour route: The Route 6 bus will depart the terminal via Young Street, turning right onto Peel Street onto Simcoe Street before turning right onto Brock Street and left onto Dundas Street. Stops closed: Two (2)
Temporary stops: Four (4)
|
| Route 7 - South Central |
|
Start date: March 24, 2025 Area affected: Wellington Street north of Peel Street, George Street and Kent Street. Detour route: The Route 7 bus will continue down Peel Street to Burtch Street before entering the transit terminal. Departing the transit terminal it will travel west on Dundas Street to Victoria Street, turning right onto Peel Street before turning left onto Wellington Street. Stops closed: Four (4)
Temporary stops: Three (3)
|
Parking Downtown
There is plenty of convenient parking, even during construction. For easy access to businesses in the Phase 1 construction area, the following lots offer 369 parking spaces. Please check lot signage as some offer 2 hour free parking and others are pay and display lots or permit parking.
- Lot 5 - Market Centre Lot - Permit or Pay and Display
- Lot 6 - Church of Epiphany Lot - Permit or 2 hour parking
- Lot 9 - Graham Street Lot - 2 hour parking
- Lot 10 - White's Lane Lot - 2 hour parking
- Lot 11 - Riddell Street Lot - 2 hour parking
- Lot 12 - Dawe's Lane Lot - 2 hour parking
- Lot 13 - Cole Walkway Lot - 2 hour parking
- Lot 14 - Adelaide Street East Lot - Permit or 2 hour parking
Construction Updates
Information about the project status will be updated regularly throughout the construction period. All stores and businesses in the construction area will remain open throughout construction. A detour will be in effect starting March 24.
| March 12, 2025 |
| Road closure notification signage was installed the week of March 10. Fencing will be installed starting March 24 and detours will be in effect. Work will then begin to remove street furnishing, traffic lights and concrete starting at the Dundas Street and Wellington Street intersection. |
Background
In October 2022, Council adopted the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan. The plan outlines design concepts, recommended materials, proposed phasing and cost estimates and was one of the top priorities identified in the Downtown Development Plan.
| Project Area |
| Downtown Woodstock is the most intensive and functionally diverse area of Woodstock, serving as the primary business, cultural and administrative centre in the County. It has a distinct heritage character and a thriving commercial area. The central area focuses on the Dundas Street corridor from Graham Street to Wellington Street. This area is the heart of the Downtown. With the proximity of City Hall, Museum Square, and other important destinations, it makes this the most active area of the Downtown. Extensive consultation was undertaken throughout the process and the City received tremendous feedback, with more than 1,000 responses to the online survey collecting input on the design options. The Master Plan aims to address areas of concerns identified through the consultation and will add in accessibility features to create a more inclusive environment for everyone. Specifically, the project will include removing the existing surface materials (asphalt, concrete, paving stones and lighting) and replacing with new asphalt, including textured asphalt sidewalks, rolled curbs, new lighting and new street furniture. Parking has been modified in select locations to allow for bump-outs and enhanced pedestrian crossings. This ensures a well connected, active space that emphasizes pedestrian safety. Several streets terminate at Dundas Street within this area. These terminating views provide an opportunity for Public Art and enhanced vistas along the streetscape. |
| Implementation of the Master Plan |
| In March 2024, Council directed staff to proceed with implementation of the streetscape for the section of Dundas between Riddell Street and Wellington Street. Completing the project in phases will showcase what the completed project will look like and allow us to test the functionality and adjust any improvements on future phases. The project has been broken down into the following phases: - Phase 1 (Wellington to Riddell) and Phase 2 (Light to Graham) have been approved by Council and are proceeding in 2025. The approximate cost for these two phases is $5.7M - Phase 3 (Graham to Riddell), Phase 4 (Vansittart to Light) and Phase 5 (Wellington Street to Beale Street) are included in the capital budget forecast for 2026 – 2028, however each phase will come back for approval as part of the annual budget process. The estimated cost of phases 3 – 5 is approximately $10M. - Phase 6 is the redevelopment of Museum Square. This portion of the project has not been approved by Council. Depending on the features and amenities included, staff estimates the cost could be in the range of $10-15M. - Phase 7 is an addition to City Hall. Again, this phase has not been approved by Council and the project has not progressed enough to provide an accurate cost estimate. However, based on preliminary discussions it could be in the range of $12 – 17M. |
| Overall Concept |
| The master plan proposes a streetscape and public realm vision for Downtown Woodstock. This proposed plan and overall implementation strategies look at the entire Downtown stretch, from Vansittart Avenue to Beale Street / Bay Street. This master plan proposes a continuous approach throughout the Downtown, with unique interventions based on site specific needs. The plan also recognizes the current character of the Downtown and seeks to develop a phased approach in which Woodstock’s Downtown can continue to grow, thrive and invite public use. The plan will:
|
