Road 38

Road 38 Construction Update

UPDATE - October 24, 2025 - G. Williams Paving is wrapping up work on the initial phase of the Road 38 Reconstruction project with the completion of the final lift of paving of the 4 km stretch of roadway between Yarker Road and Kingston Road. The balance of the road work activities included in 2025 (Phase 1) will be completed during the following weeks listed below subject to weather constraints:

1. Week of November 3 – Paving of driveways and pathways will be advanced along with the installation of new steel beam guiderail systems.
2. Week of November 10 – Placement and grading of the gravel shoulders.
3. Week of November 17 – Landscaping reinstatements and hydro seeding for all disturbed areas.

Work on the 4.0 meter diameter pipe at Murvale Creek has been suspended for the balance of the construction season due to challenges encountered during the construction of the roadway protection and dewatering system. Sub-surface conditions at the culvert have identified the presence of a suspected timber crib directly beneath the existing pipe that was not identified during the design investigations. After consideration of in-water restrictions (fisheries) and the onset of fall weather, the decision was made to suspend further work at the crossing in 2025. Road 38 will be repaired at the area of the pipe crossing in the week of October 27 and two-way traffic will be restored that week for the winter and spring seasons.

G. Williams Paving will be advancing the final stages of the project next year with the completion of the 1.8 km stretch of roadway between Murton Road and Yarker Road (Phase 2). The two-year contract for Road 38 will conclude on September 26, 2026.

Road 38 Construction Advancing

UPDATE – May 16, 2025 – The Road 38 Reconstruction project will soon be advancing and will include major road and drainage improvements on the 5.8 km section of highway between Kingston Road and Murton Road. Reconstruction contracts have been awarded to G. Williams Paving Ltd. and crews will be mobilizing to the project beginning the morning of Tuesday, May 20^th. Construction activities will continue through to the end of November this fall. Intermittent lane closures and traffic delays should be expected through this period. Further project updates on the project will be provided as the works progress.

Please help make it a safe summer by reducing speeds in construction zones and obeying crews and traffic signs at all times. Thanks for your cooperation as we work to improve and maintain roads in South Frontenac!

Murton Road to Kingston Road (Harrowsmith)
Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study

In 2023, Council approved funding for the advancement for the Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study for the section of Road 38 between Murton Road and Kingston Road. Under the Township’s 2022 Comprehensive Roads Needs Study, this 5.4 km section of arterial roadway has a Pavement Condition Index of 60/100 which translates to a rating of Fair. Records suggest that the road was last paved in 1993 and the road surface is now in a state where full replacement is required. Work on the road is forecasted to begin in 2025.

The Preliminary Design work being led by Safe Roads Engineering will look at replacement options for the corridor and will consider aspects such as:

• Traffic studies evaluating anticipated traffic growth
• Rehabilitation or replacement of the Murvale Creek culvert
• Rehabilitation or replacement of all existing drainage crossings
• Geotechnical Evaluations in support of future reconstruction of road, bridge and drainage assets
• Inventory of Natural Heritage Resources and Species at Risk
• Inventory of Cultural Heritage Assets / Archaeological Screening
• Road safety review (accident history, roadside, auxiliary lanes, lighting etc.)
• Considerations for climate change
• All replacement options will consider social, environmental and financial impacts

This project is being planned as a Schedule B project under the 2023 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process as prescribed under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Refer to the project notice for contacts and further information.

A Public Information Meeting will be held in the future to provide more information and solicit feedback on the project. Details and dates will be advertised once available.