About this project:

In December 2024, City Council approved a Neighbourhood Connectivity Plan for the Hamilton Road/Fairmont area. As part of this plan, a new sidewalk will be built on one side of Manitoulin Drive from Tweedsmuir Avenue to Montebello Drive, and on the west side of Montebello Drive from Manitoulin Drive to Gore Road.

Construction is planned for 2026 to improve access to Tweedsmuir Public School, Fairmont Park and St. Bernadette’s Catholic School.Construction is planned for 2026 to improve access to Tweedsmuir Public School, Fairmont Park and St. Bernadette’s Catholic School.

Above: A map of the proposed sidewalk on Manitoulin Drive and Montebello Drive

Design options:

There are three design options that will be considered for the sidewalk:

1. Standard boulevard sidewalk: The sidewalk is placed behind the curb with a wide strip of grass in between. This provides space for trees.

2. Curb-adjacent sidewalk: The sidewalk is placed directly beside the curb, without a grass boulevard.

3. Sidewalk with road narrowing: The road is made a little narrower, and a sidewalk is added right at the edge of the street with a curb.

Final Sidewalk Design

Based on resident feedback and the detailed assessment, the City is recommending curb-adjacent sidewalks for most of the area because it minimizes impacts to trees, yards, and driveways. Additional trees would have been required to be removed along Manitoulin Drive with a standard location, boulevard sidewalk. A short section of Montebello Drive was selected to use a boulevard sidewalk because it increases pedestrian comfort, reduces tree impacts, provides space in the boulevard for a bus stop, and helps drivers better recognize when people walking are intending to cross at the pedestrian crossing in front of Tweedsmuir Public School.

Since the notice, a detailed land survey has been completed, an on-street meeting was held, and the feasibility of various sidewalk locations on Manitoulin Drive and Montebello Drive has been assessed.

The assessment looked at a range of factors, including pedestrian comfort, potential impacts to street lighting, grading, trees, utilities, on-street parking, and driveways. City staff also considered the comments we received from residents at the on-street meeting on October 28, 2025, and all other feedback received to date.

Based on resident feedback and the detailed assessment, the City is recommending the following sidewalk locations:

  • Montebello Drive: from Tweedsmuir Avenue to Manitoulin Drive - the sidewalk location will be behind and adjacent to the existing curb (West/South side).
  • Montebello Drive: from Manitoulin Drive to 213 Montebello Dr. - the sidewalk location will be the standard location behind the curb with grass boulevard between sidewalk and curb (West side)
  • Montebello Drive: from 213 Montebello Dr. to Gore Road - the sidewalk location will be behind and adjacent to the existing curb (West side).

Curb-adjacent sidewalk was selected for most of the area because it minimizes impacts to trees, yards, and driveways. Additional trees would have been required to be removed along Manitoulin Drive with a standard location, boulevard sidewalk.

A short section of Montebello Drive was selected to use a boulevard sidewalk because it increases pedestrian comfort, reduces tree impacts, provides space in the boulevard for a bus stop, and helps drivers better recognize when people walking are intending to cross at the pedestrian crossing in front of Tweedsmuir Public School.

Advance Tree Removals

After careful assessment by the project team and City forestry staff, it was determined that a total of 11 trees along Manitoulin Drive and 23 trees along Montebello Drive, within the City right of way, will need to be removed, see Appendix A for details.