Successful Construction Season Strengthens Northumberland’s Infrastructure
From road resurfacing to culvert relining, 2025 has been a productive year for Northumberland County Public Works as critical infrastructure projects were completed across the region to keep residents, visitors, and goods moving safely and smoothly.
These investments reflect the County’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, reliable infrastructure, while applying innovative approaches that save time and money and minimize disruptions for the community.
“Our roads, bridges, and culverts form the backbone of local connectivity and economic growth,” says Director of Public Works Denise Marshall. “This year, we’ve made significant progress on projects that enhance safety, accessibility, and long-term sustainability across the county. These improvements help ensure Northumberland continues to thrive as a connected and resilient community.”
Welcome Intersection Upgrades
One of this season’s most significant safety improvements is wrapping up for the Welcome intersection in Port Hope (County Roads 2, 10 and 74), where upgrades include improved traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Key features include two new pedestrian crossings—one on County Road 74 and one on the south side of County Road 2—along with new sidewalks, curbs, upgraded signage, and enhanced streetlighting to improve visibility. The intersection construction for 2025 will be wrapping up this week. Final asphalt and line painting will be completed in the spring.
County Road 64 (Prince Edward Street)
In partnership with the Municipality of Brighton, Northumberland County continued a multi-year reconstruction of Prince Edward Street (County Road 64) to strengthen infrastructure, enhance safety, and support community growth.
This season, work involved the installation of new water mains, sanitary lines, and storm sewers from Harbour Street to Stephen Street. With curbs and asphalt nearing completion, the road is expected to reopen next week. Over the winter, the County will review progress and refine plans ahead of next spring’s construction effort to continue the work north to Main Street.
Culvert Rehabilitation on County Road 25
On County Road 25 south of Warkworth, the County adopted an innovative approach to culvert renewal using a trenchless rehabilitation technique. Instead of a full replacement, crews relined the existing culvert with a geopolymer mortar, forming a new, durable pipe within the old structure. This method delivered multiple benefits with no digging or road closures, reduced costs and project time and will extend service life by approximately 40 years.
Burnley Bridge Replacement
Construction crews finishing work on the replacement of Burnley Bridge on County Road 29 in the Village of Burnley, in Trent Hills. Originally constructed in 1950, the bridge had reached the end of its service life. The new structure features a two-lane precast concrete rigid frame bridge, steel beam guide rails for added roadside protection, and reconstructed approaches to improve alignment and safety. A permanent speed reduction has also been implemented in the area in keeping with modern road safety standards. Burnley Bridge was reopened to the community last week.
Preventive Road Maintenance
To keep the County’s 500+ km road network in good condition, Public Works carried out a range of preventive maintenance projects designed to extend infrastructure lifespan and reduce long-term repair costs:
· Micro-surfacing: 10 km on County Roads 9, 22, and 74 (Hamilton and Alnwick/Haldimand)
· Crack sealing: 15 km across Hamilton, Alnwick/Haldimand, and Brighton
· Surface treatment: 20 km of County roads, plus support for more than 100 km of municipal surface treatments.
“Infrastructure renewal is never complete—it’s an ongoing process of investment and innovation,” adds Marshall. “Construction season can be disruptive, and we thank everyone for their patience and cooperation as we deliver these important upgrades.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love