Harwood Avenue Multi Use Path

Purpose

Harwood Avenue is a vital roadway within Ajax connecting the community to the waterfront, to local businesses and to recreation/gathering spaces like the Ajax Community Centre and Pat Bayly Square. Currently, Harwood has limited active transportation infrastructure creating conflict between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. The new Harwood MUP provides an off-road facility for safe travel for pedestrians and cyclists, promotes active transportation and provides meaningful connections to Durham Region Transit (DRT). The path also facilitates a direct connection to the existing MUP along Bayly Street and a connection to the waterfront trail including access to schools and key community destinations.

What to Expect

The first phase of the Multi Use Path will include the following:

• Removal of existing sidewalk from McRae Road to Clements Road
• Relocation of utilities (Rogers, Bell, Enbridge Gas)
• Removal of right turn lanes and construction of new curbs
• Construction of new 3.0m MUP
• Mill and overlay of the curb lanes from 100m north of Dreyer to McRae Road
• New pavement markings
• Rolling bike lane closures - 200 metres of the bike lane will be closed at time, beginning at McRae moving north to Clements.
• Working hours are from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Signage to be installed with cone surrounding working areas.
• A letter was distributed to households (this can be viewed under 'Documents' on the right side of the page).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When was this project first identified to the public?

A: On October 12, 2021, as revised on December 13, 2021, Council passed a resolution to proceed with the detail design of an off-road multi-use path on the east side of Harwood Avenue between Bayly Street and McRae Road

Q: How is this being paid for?

A: The MUP was included in the 2023 and 2024 Capital Budgets. To learn more about Ajax's capital budget visit ajax.ca/budget.

Q: Are the existing bike on-road bike lanes at the south end of Harwood Avenue being removed as part of this project?

A: Yes. The new MUP will connect to the existing MUP along Harwood Avenue from McCrae Road to Lake Driveway East.

Q: Were any studies completed prior to starting construction?

A: Yes.

To implement the MUP on the east side of Harwood Avenue between Clements Road and McRae Road, and while minimizing impacts to adjacent properties, an option of eliminating the northbound right turn lanes was identified at Clover Ridge Drive, Gorton Road, Dreyer Drive and Clements Road.

In May 2024, a study was undertaken as part of the detail design to identify the traffic operation impacts at the main signalized intersections with the removal of the right-turn lanes under the existing (2024) and future 2041 horizon years. The study considered the following:

• Removal of on-street bike lanes at the north and southbound approaches,
• Additional vehicular though lanes at both approaches,
• Intersection operational analysis for the future 2041 horizon.

Based on the traffic operation analysis results, it was concluded that the removal of northbound right turn lanes at both the intersections of Harwood Avenue with Clements Road and /Dreyer Drive will have minimal impacts at both the intersection operations.

Q: How is this work being communicated to residents?

A: Communications include:

• Mailing notices to residents and business owners in the immediate area
• Providing information on the Town's IMO Hub (this page)
• Posting information signs at the construction site
• Social media
• Via the the Town's weekly electronic newsletter - Inside Ajax.