Main Street Unionville Restoration

Preserving historic atmosphere and preparing for the future

Main Street Unionville is a heritage village known for its shopping, dining and historical charm. To preserve its heritage, improve aging infrastructure and support local commercial activity, upgrades were made to water and storm infrastructure, roadways and streetscaping

The project was completed in three phases. Phase one involved improvements to East Lane and Victoria Avenue, as well as watermain upgrades. This phase included the installation of 70 metres of 400 mm PVC watermain on Carlton Road with associated valve chambers, 568 metres of curb and gutter with a 150 mm subdrain wrapped in geotextile and storm sewer work consisting of a 21‑metre 900 mm HDPE culvert and 121 metres of 450 mm HDPE storm sewer with seven catch basins. Additionally, 15 streetlights were installed, and four rain gardens were incorporated as part of the project’s low-impact development and stormwater management strategy..

Phase two centered around the Main Street revitalization, which included watermain replacement along Victoria Avenue, Station Lane and Fred Varley, with additional cured-in-place storm sewer pipe work. To improve durability of the road and prevent drainage issues, approximately 6,200 m²  of interlocking brick pavers and 1,029 metres of concrete curb and gutter with a 150 mm subdrain were installed. The interlocking brick pavers also enhance the street’s visual appeal and tie in the area’s historical design. Additional improvements to the roads included streetlights, future traffic signal infrastructure, landscaping and communications conduit installation.

Phase three included reconstructing Victoria Avenue with new sub-base, base and surface asphalt. This phase also included concrete curbs and sidewalks and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) improvements.

Contract Administration

EXP’s contract administration services included managing project scope, quality, cost, schedule and stakeholder engagement. The EXP team also facilitated meetings, processed payment certificates, resolved design issues, conducted daily site inspections, prepared weekly reports, reviewed excess soils report and conducted geotechnical services.

Community and stakeholder engagement

The EXP team, along with local authorities and project partners, played a significant role in keeping the project on track through early engagement and management of project scope and communication with the public. Through coordination with city staff, the Councillor’s Office, the Unionville Business Improvement Area (UBIA), operations teams and the contractor, the project team prioritized the input of business owners, residents and other key stakeholders, and dedicated a field ambassador to keep all parties informed on the project. Regular visits to local businesses and the UBIA, as well as a log created to track concerns and resolutions, made sure that any questions were adequately addressed.

Utilities coordination to maintain local operations during construction

Executing a linear infrastructure project within a busy business community presents significant challenges, including restricted access to local businesses and potential service disruptions. To mitigate these challenges, a collaborative approach was established among all project partners, City of Markham, EXP and CRCE, ensuring proactive coordination throughout construction. This collaboration enabled timely communication, rapid issue resolution and effective stakeholder engagement. Scheduled events on Main Street Unionville were also coordinated in advance with the contractor to prevent interference with construction. As a result, project momentum was maintained, minimizing impacts to the community and contributing to the overall success of the project.

Services

Project Management, Contract Administration, Site Inspection, Community Relations, Geotechnical