Middlesex Centre is working on a long-term solution to address erosion, slope stability and safety concerns along Old River Road between Glendon Drive and Pulham Road.
The project is currently in the detailed design stage. The municipality is reviewing an alternative approach that would keep construction out of the Thames River, reducing potential impacts on aquatic habitat while continuing to address the stability of the road and riverbank.
- Project at a Glance
- Location: Old River Road between Glendon Drive and Pulham Road
- Purpose: Address erosion, slope stability, flooding and road safety concerns
- Road access: Old River Road remains open to local traffic only, and residents can continue to access their properties
- Current stage: Detailed design
- What’s being considered: A revised design that would keep construction out of the Thames River, reducing impacts on aquatic habitat and potentially reducing approval requirements and costs
- Construction timing: A construction schedule will be confirmed once the design and required approvals are complete
- Why is this project needed?
Old River Road is a 1.89 km winding road running from Glendon Drive to Pulham Road, alongside the Thames River. The road is located within a narrow right-of-way and has experienced ongoing flooding, riverbank erosion and slope instability. In some areas, continued erosion and slope movement are causing the road to subside toward the river, creating safety concerns.
The project is intended to:
- stabilize the eroding slope and riverbank;
- provide a long-term, reliable road structure;
- improve safety along the road;
- reduce flooding impacts where possible; and
- protect the surrounding natural environment by avoiding or minimizing environmental impacts.
Old River Road has been open only to local traffic since July 2019. Residents continue to have access to their properties.
- Map: Old River Road
- Project Timeline
2019: Environmental assessment and road closure
The Glendon Drive Streetscape Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in 2019. It identified a preferred approach for the reconstruction, realignment and slope stabilization of Old River Road between Glendon Drive and Pulham Road.
Old River Road was restricted to local traffic in July 2019 as a precaution because of erosion, embankment stability concerns and continued deterioration of the road.
2022: Detailed design begins
In October 2022, Council awarded the engineering design and contract administration work to IBI Group, now Arcadis, for $529,436
2023: Public consultation
A public information centre was held on Mar. 2, 2023, to present the selected design, answer questions and gather input from residents, agencies and other interested parties. At that stage, topographic surveying had been completed and geotechnical investigations were underway.
2024–2026: Environmental review, property acquisition, and design work
As part of the detailed design process, permit applications and supporting studies were submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA). Property acquisition was also undertaken to support construction of the proposed shoreline protection.
The original design included shoreline protection and construction within the Thames River. DFO advised that this approach would require authorization under the federal Fisheries Act because of potential impacts on aquatic habitat and species at risk.
DFO also advised that redesigning the project to avoid work in the river could potentially allow it to proceed through a different, less extensive federal review process. Municipal staff therefore asked the project consultant to investigate an alternative design.
2026: Alternative design
The alternative design would use temporary shoreline supports and construction methods located outside the active watercourse. The approach is being explored to:
- reduce impacts on aquatic habitat;
- minimize or eliminate the need for a Fisheries Act authorization;
- reduce the risk of delays associated with federal permitting;
- reduce or eliminate habitat compensation requirements; and
- potentially lower construction costs.
Staff presented a report council on the rationale for the alternative design and associated engineering design costs at their Oct 21, 2026, meeting.
- Project Costs
- Project Scope
The full project is estimated to cost $5.38 million. Given rising project costs and other municipal priorities, the 2026 budget included $3.293 million to complete Section B of the project.
Section B has been prioritized because it addresses the most significant risk, including critical slope stabilization and road realignment work.
The remaining sections may be considered in the future if funding becomes available, subject to Council approval.
Project Section Map
- Costs
The 2026 approved project budget is $3.28 million, covering construction, design, engineering and contingencies related to Section B. As of October 2026, $58,100 had been spent from this budget.
In October 2026, Council approved an additional $150,000 for engineering work to explore alternative designs for the project. The change in design is expected to save $800,000.
Previous costs include $403,267 for design and engineering work, along with expenses for related studies, land acquisition and legal fees.
- Alternative Design
While it will require an additional $150,000 in engineering design costs, moving to an alternative design that avoids in water work and DFO permitting (see project timeline above) is expected to save $800,000.
The current estimated costs for the alternative design are:
- Capital Construction Alternative Design (including contingency): $2,168,325
- Remaining approved Design and Engineering (including contingency): $104,903
- Additional Design and Engineering (including contingency): $150,000
- Total: $2,423,228
All figures are estimates and may change as the design, approvals and tendering processes move forward.
- What happens next?
The next phase of the project includes:
- confirming that the alternative stabilization approach is technically feasible;
- completing additional technical assessments;
- consulting with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada;
- revising the detailed design and construction documents; and
- confirming the approvals required before the project can proceed to tender and construction.
The construction schedule will be confirmed after the design and required approvals are complete.
- Project Documents
Project Documents
- Staff Report to Council, Oct. 21, 2026 - Alternative Design
- Staff Report to Council, Nov. 5, 2025 - Status Update
- Staff Report to Council, Sept. 18, 2024 - Status Update
- Staff Report to Council, Jul. 5, 2023 - Status Update
- Old River Road Public Information Centre (PIC) 1, Feb. 9, 2023 - includes display boards shared at PIC
- Staff Report to Council, Oct. 12, 2022 - Old River Road Engineering Consultant Award
- Old River Road Closure Notice, Jul. 2, 2019
- Glendon Drive Environmental Assessment Study, 2019
- Stay Informed
Updates will be posted on this page as the project progresses.
For questions about the Old River Road project, contact Andrew Giesen, Manager of Transportation for the Municipality of Middlesex Centre.