Abstract Manager

The “Woodbridge Avenue Improvements and Streetscaping Project” is located on Woodbridge Avenue between Islington Avenue and Kipling Avenue, in a commercial and residential area in the heart of Woodbridge Village, in the City of Vaughan, in York Region. Construction commenced April 2022 and was completed at the end of 2023.

The Woodbridge Avenue corridor and the surrounding area have been rapidly changing in the last decade with high-density development, including residential and mixed-use buildings, resulting in the growth of a larger urbanized area. As the area has grown and changed over the years, urban design challenges emerged, resulting in intermittent infrastructure improvements. The project team faced the challenge of balancing public safety needs and public wants (i.e. new cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, beautification).

This project features many important infrastructure enhancements, including road rehabilitation, streetscape and landscape enhancements, watermain replacements, sanitary sewer upgrades, streetlighting improvements, traffic signal additions, bridge improvements, and parking lay-bys (designated paved parking areas). The existing and new infrastructure was made AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005) compliant. The renewed streetscape and addition of crosswalks increased safety between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. As a result, active transportation (walking and cycling) is more convenient with access to trails and open space.

Prior to the commencement of the detail design, a Streetscape Plan Study was commissioned. The study intended to build on an existing policy framework and encouraged the evolution of the Woodbridge Village as a livable, vibrant, and sustainable community. The study reviewed the historical and contemporary context, in addition to the identification and development of the distinct character and identity of the Woodbridge core and vicinity study area. The study also included narrowing of the road to increase public safety, and an increase of boulevard space to accommodate greater and safer foot traffic. The detailed plan integrated sustainable design and best practices and responded to social, cultural, financial, and environmental considerations and opportunities.

The streetscape and landscape design for Woodbridge Avenue:

• promotes walking, cycling and transit use,
• reduces conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles,
• supports daily community life and events,
• captures inspirational, educational and heritage elements,
• increases tree coverage, and
• builds on the convenient access to the trail along the Humber River system.

The underground and streetscape/landscape improvements made through this project support the needs of existing & future residents and businesses on Woodbridge Avenue for the foreseeable future.