Tender awarded for disputed Bloomfield Main construction

Administrator | Mar 11, 2026 | Comments 1

By Sharon Harrison
Several Bloomfield business owners and residents came out to express disapproval of the timing of the proposed Main Street road reconstruction, and the associated 12-week disruption through this April, May and June.

It was a long council meeting Tuesday night with a packed Shire Hall, that heard 21 members of the public voice opinion, representing some of the 40-plus businesses that occupy Main and Stanley streets.

Some shared frustration, worry and anger with every one of the comments against having road construction begin in early April, to last three months.

While staff estimated a 12-week construction period, Osborne said the contractor had advised that the work could substantially be complete within eight to 10 weeks, so early- to mid-June. Further, it was noted that none of the sidewalks will be closed during construction.

Some preferred instead to have one of the other two proposed options considered which would see the construction split into two parts, ensuring the summer months were construction-free. Many more asked for a deferral of the work for a year, or even two.

Speaking to the 12-week disruption through April, May and June, Bloomfield business owner Jade Leadbetter, speaking on behalf of some members of the Bloomfield business community, said those months are “critical to the financial viability of our businesses”, adding June is a peak season month that will come with one-lane traffic and no street parking.

Leadbetter added the project is not structurally urgent in a way that demands peak-season implementation in 2026.

“Not only does this timeline consume a peak season month, it also has no runway for potential delays. Any delays, like a week or two of rain, will push construction into July,” stated Leadbetter. “For many of us, these are not ordinary months, they determine whether we survive the year: for the majority of our businesses, this is about survival.”

Comments overall touched on the potential significant loss of income, economic survival, a lack of transparency, how shoulder seasons are critical for business, and comments about not being heard by staff, a lack of clear communication, and in one case, a lack of support from both Bloomfield councillors.

Some cited how there is no immediate necessity for the project as the road is in good condition. Several business owners spoke to how 2026 is expected to be a “pivotal” and “critical” year for tourism based on several indicators.

In the end, the staff recommended Option 1, the shortest of three proposed options, intended to best accommodate the concerns of the business community during the continuous three-moth construction phase, particularly its impact during peak tourism season.

Council approved the tender for the rehabilitation of a one-kilometre section of Bloomfield Main Street (from Corey Street to Wellington Street) in the amount of just under $1.5 million (plus taxes) awarding it to Drew Harrison Haulage Ltd.

It took just seven members of council to vote in favour of proceeding with this option, namely, mayor Steve Ferguson, and councillors John Hirsch, Bill Roberts, Phil St-Jean, Brad Nieman, Janice Maynard and Sam Grosso (with Chris Braney and Corey Engelsdorfer opposed). Councillors Kate MacNaughton and David Harrison excused themselves from the vote due to pecuniary interest. (Councillors Sam Branderhorst, Phil Prinzen and Roy Pennell were absent).

Engelsdorfer questioned why Option 3 wasn’t selected by staff, to which project manager Garrett Osborne said Option 1 was the more efficient option.

“April to June is the most economically responsible option,” Osborne said, adding that delays due to weather have been factored into the schedule.

A motion put forward by Engelsdorfer to go instead with Option 3 (a split schedule with no summer construction) failed with only three votes (Engelsdorfer, Braney and Grosso). Osborne explained that a change of such magnitude with rescheduling the works to Option 3, would be a significant change involving the need to cancel the tender and reissue a new tender.

“I struggle with… then why do we do these picks with these options: we don’t listen to the business community or the public, so why… I just don’t understand why we do them,” expressed Engelsdorfer. “So here we are, we are stuck with what’s on the recommendation, we have no alternative.”

A further motion, this time by Braney, to defer the work for one year went nowhere as he was unable to secure a seconder for his proposal.

Osborne reminded that in order to take advantage of the provincial government funding, the project must be completed no later than Dec. 31 this year, otherwise the funding will be lost.

And while it was noted that the municipality could re-apply for the funding source next year, assuming the program was still available, there are no guarantees the municipality would be successful, along with concern of government not looking favourably upon the County having turned the funding down once already.

“I am supportive of getting this going as soon as possible so it can be completed as soon as possible – let’s get it done,” said Ferguson. “The other factor is that I worry about our reputation with the upper levels of government, both levels, and not having to burden taxpayers with another project.”

St-Jean said Option 1 is the recommendation that makes the most sense.

“A condensed construction plan that is at the time of the year that has the least amount of impact on business and residents’, and this plan does that,” stated St-Jean. “I see too many risks to not move forward: this is the right thing to do, and we run the risk of not getting funding in the future if we don’t move forward with this.”

While delays are to be expected through Bloomfield starting in early April, as construction is set to begin through the village, lasting three months, the street and all businesses will remain open, with Main Street reduced to one lane of traffic for the duration (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).

With construction beginning at Corey Street and progressing west, Osborne did remind that only the area where the contractor is actively working will be reduced to one single lane of traffic, and the road will be open back up to two lanes of traffic at the end of every working day. Further, it was noted that none of the sidewalks will be closed during construction.

A few people, including several councillors, were attempting to make comparisons to the recent Wellington waterworks reconstruction, even though it is not remotely comparable in its extent or length, according to staff and others.

“This construction is mainly surface works and is not like some of the recent construction projects in Picton and Wellington where underground sanitary and water were being replaced,” explained Osborne. “This project will be much faster and much less disruptive compared to those construction projects just due to the nature of the works.”

“This is in no way as complicated as Wellington or other projects: the roadway is going to be open and the sidewalk will not be affected,” added Ferguson.

The anticipated 12-week project will include not only resurfacing of the roadway and boulevards with new hot mix asphalt, but also repairs to the existing storm sewer infrastructure and partial replacement of deteriorated curb and select sidewalk panels.

Option 2 would have seen a longer construction period (four months) divided into two phases, to include April and May, and September and October, with a pause through June, July and August to accommodate peak summer months. Option 3 would have also seen a four-month construction period, also from April and May, then September and October, with a same pause through June, July and August peak summer months. This option saw the downtown section (Corey Street to Duncan Street) to be completed in the spring, with the western section to be done in the fall.

The sum of $2,058,969 was secured from the provincial government’s Ministry of Transportation’s Connecting Links Program, funding the County applied for, as Bloomfield Main Street is designated as a connecting link highway, connecting Highway 62 and Highway 33, which are both under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. The province will pay up to 90 percent of the cost, leaving an estimated municipal contribution of approximately $256,031 (10 per cent) to be funded from the Roads Construction Reserve.

Seven bids were received ranging from $1,447,410 to $2,313,214, with staff recommending the lowest bidder.