Simcoe County residents can expect more orange cones and longer drives this summer as the county adds several new road projects to its 2026 rehabilitation program. The expanded list now covers 11 road segments across eight municipalities, stretching from New Tecumseth to Tiny Township, with work set to run through the construction season.
The County of Simcoe says the refreshed lineup includes fresh paving on County Road 1 through New Tecumseth for 8.3 kilometres, County Road 56 in Essa for 8.9 kilometres, and County Road 45 in Ramara for 3 kilometres. Other stretches getting attention include parts of County Road 16 and County Road 52 in Severn, County Road 28 in Springwater, County Road 6 in Tiny, and County Road 12 in Adjala-Tosorontio, plus targeted lane work on a few smaller routes.
The work is part of a $56-million capital budget for road construction and maintenance this year, drawn from a $1-billion overall county budget that includes a 3.5 per cent property tax bump. Drivers on County Road 21 between Innisfil and Essa are already seeing the impact, with resurfacing underway since early May and expected to wrap by June 19 on the section from County Road 53 to County Road 27, and by June 26 from Kallen Boulevard to County Road 56.
All jobs run Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with single-lane alternating traffic guided by flaggers. Emergency vehicles, school buses, and transit always get priority, but everyone else should plan for slowdowns. The county says every effort will be made to keep disruptions small, though residents should still build extra travel time into their day.
The transportation department manages over 1,830 lane kilometres of road, 115 bridges, and 63 signalized intersections across 16 member municipalities. The summer push reflects the county’s ongoing effort to stay ahead of road wear, driven partly by population growth and regular five-year needs studies that help target the worst stretches before they need full reconstruction.
