We're Diggin' Downtown Huntsville!

Diggin’ Downtown construction began in March 2021 to address underground water and sewage pipes. Replacing the infrastructure also created an opportunity to improve the pedestrian experience with new sidewalks and streetscape elements to provide a more attractive and accessible downtown, including a smooth new driving surface.

To stay in the know regarding construction news, timelines, detour information, maps and resources for the duration of the project visit Huntsville.ca/diggindowntown

Diggin' Downtown - Latest News

June 17, 2022 Update:

Huntsville’s Diggin’ Downtown enters final stage of construction

(Huntsville ON) The Town of Huntsville and District of Muskoka are pleased to announce Diggin’ Downtown road closures and detours will lift by end of day Friday, June 17, 2022 and Caroline Street will be reopened to two-way traffic, as construction enters the fifth and final stage of the project.

“We are pleased that all underground infrastructure has been installed and property owners in the downtown core are successfully operating on new connections,” says Mark Misko, Director of Engineering and Transportation for the District of Muskoka. “As we enter the final stage of construction, crews will be working to make finishing touches on above-ground work and completing the final lift of asphalt in the next few weeks.”

While traffic resumes on Main Street from Lorne Street to the bridge, construction crews will be present in the downtown core over the next several weeks to complete Stage 5 requirements. Sidewalk and curb work, streetscaping elements and preparation for the final lift of asphalt will be achieved throughout June and July. Motorists are advised temporary lane closures may be in place from time to time as crews address this work, even after the asphalt is completed.

What to expect in Stage Five of Construction:

• Final streetscape elements installed
• Sidewalks and curbs completed
• Preparation for final asphalt
• Overnight closure of Main Street from the bridge to Lorne Street for final lift of asphalt
• Quality assurance review

Final Lift of Asphalt:

To complete the final lift of asphalt, a full road closure of Main Street from the bridge to Lorne Street is required to achieve a smooth driving surface downtown. To mitigate the disruption to traffic and impact on the downtown core, Huntsville Council approved exemptions to the noise bylaw so the work can be completed in the evening hours starting at 7:00pm and over-night until 7:00am. It is anticipated that crews will need 1 or 2 nights to complete paving activities. The exact schedule and dates for this closure will be communicated with advance notice, as construction crews plan for and work around weather forecasts.

The Town of Huntsville and District of Muskoka would like to thank the community for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during this construction project.

For more information please visit huntsville.ca/diggindowntown.

Diggin' Downtown News

May, 2022 Update
Diggin’ Downtown detours will change on Tuesday May 31, 2022 with the re-opening of the Lorne Street intersection. Read our Joint Media release here.

March, 2022 Update
Starting March 14, 2022, construction will happen at the Main Street and Centre Street intersection. Main Street from Lorne Street South to West Street will be fully closed to motorists.

November 23, 2021
The District of Muskoka and Town of Huntsville are working closely with the Downtown Huntsville BIA to ensure the success of the 1^st Annual Muskoka Market, Huntsville Holiday Edition! Diggin’ Downtown crews will remain on site this week, working to secure downtown for winter and prepare for the BIA’s Annual Muskoka Market, with events and celebrations happening downtown throughout the weekend.

October 25, 2021
Diggin’ Downtown construction will continue through October, and early November. The District of Muskoka and Town of Huntsville are working closely with crews to re-open road access to the downtown core for the winter season. Read our Joint Media Release here.

October 4, 2021
Please be advised the swing bridge in downtown Huntsville will temporarily be reduced to a single lane of traffic on Tuesday, October 5 at 9:00am and will reopen at 3:00pm for work related to Diggin’ Downtown construction. Read our Joint Media Release here.

September 16, 2021
Diggin’ Downtown construction crews are progressing with work downtown and have been preparing the Stage 2 area for new curb and sidewalks this week, September 13 -17, 2021. Crews will be onsite and working in the Brunel Road and West Street area this Saturday, September 18, 2021, during the day for fine grading work within the roadway. Read our Joint Media Release here.

September 10, 2021
The Town of Huntsville and District of Muskoka would like to notify the community that a Diggin’ Downtown construction crew will be onsite on Saturday, September 11 to start preparations for the road and sidewalk base. Read our Joint Media Release here.

August 20, 2021
The underground and aboveground streetscape transformation continues in historic downtown Huntsville. While the Diggin’ Downtown project has experienced setbacks due to aging service connections and continuous heavy rainfall, project partners have established a new construction schedule and added an additional construction crew on-site to minimize delays. Read our Joint Media Release here.

July 26, 2021
The Town of Huntsville and District of Muskoka would like to advise the community the Diggin’ Downtown construction project will remain in Stage 2 construction until further notice. Read our latest Joint Media Release here.

July 15, 2021
Over the past few weeks, Huntsville has received over two months’ worth of rain, putting our Town's storm sewers to work. This increased rainfall has impacted the Diggin’ Downtown construction project progress. Read our latest Joint Media Release here.

June 11, 2021
Construction for Diggin' Downtown Huntsville will enter Stage 2 on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
Read our Joint Media Release here.

June 7, 2021
Thank you for tuning into our Community Information Session at 6 pm on June 2, 2021.
If you missed it, download a copy of our presentation or watch our recording.

May 25, 2021
Joint News Release: Huntsville’s Diggin’ Downtown Stage 2 Road Closures Start Early June

Project Reminders

Downtown Huntsville remains open for business. Pedestrian access remains open and accessible - there’s plenty of parking and many exciting promotions happening downtown. To stay in the know regarding construction news, timelines, detour information, maps and resources for the duration of the project visit Huntsville.ca/diggindowntown.

This project includes:

• Swing Bridge repairs and rehabilitation
• New swing bridge driving surface
• New sanitary system
• New storm system
• New and upgraded watermains
• New traffic signals
• New traffic lights
• New pedestrian crossings
• New sidewalks
• New landscape features
• New road alignment and parking configurations
• New road surface
• New Town Hall ramp

Have a Diggin' Downtown project question? Ask us here.
Are you a downtown merchant who has questions about impacts? We encourage downtown establishments to reach out to John Miller with Dufferin Construction, who can be seen on site each day, during work activities. Send John an email. You can also send our Project Team an email.