Mississippi Mills council has given the go-ahead for a major rebuild of Old Almonte Road, approving a $1,085,446.50 construction tender at its final meeting before summer break on June 23, 2026. The work will see the current gravel road transformed into a wider asphalt route with paved shoulders, with the job expected to wrap up by this fall.
The contract was awarded to Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited, the lowest bidder. The project carries a total cost of nearly $1.9 million, but most of the money will not come directly from local taxpayers. According to the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, development charges will cover $762,798 and a provincial grant through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Housing-Enabling Core Servicing stream will chip in up to $953,500. Only $190,700 will be drawn from municipal reserves.
The upgrade is part of a plan mapped out in the 2024 Mississippi Mills Transportation Master Plan, which singled out Old Almonte Road as a key route for future growth in the community. Right now, the road is gravel. Once the work is done, residents will have a smoother and safer drive, with more room for vehicles and paved shoulders that should make things safer for everyone using it.
The project will widen the roadway and bring it up to modern asphalt standard. Construction is slated to finish by fall 2026, giving the area a boost before winter sets in. The funding arrangement means the municipality is able to limit the direct hit to its own reserves while tapping into growth-related charges and provincial support aimed at enabling new housing.
