Major road construction on McKay Road East will keep the corridor closed longer than expected.
The City of Barrie has stated the closure between Huronia Road and Veterans Drive has been extended through the end of 2026. The road had been scheduled to reopen Jan. 23.
City officials said the extension follows a review by the project team, which identified efficiencies that allow multiple construction stages to proceed at the same time. As a result, the road must remain closed for a longer period.
The closure is required to complete major underground infrastructure work, including the installation of a new watermain and a trunk sanitary sewer. Watermain construction is taking place east to west across Highway 400, while sewer work is underway between Highway 400 and Huronia Road.
The full McKay Road East infrastructure project is expected to be completed by spring 2028.
Additional development is planned along the McKay Road corridor. Residential construction is underway at the west end of McKay Road, while 16 approved employment blocks are planned at the southwest corner of McKay Road West and Veterans Drive.
A new interchange at Highway 400 is also proposed.
In 2025, Mayor Alex Nuttall announced the future location of a recreation complex and library branch on a 100-acre site near McKay Road East and Huronia Road.
