Notice of Study Commencement: Fenelon Falls Second Crossing Study

Notice of Study Commencement

Fenelon Falls Second Crossing Study
Somerville Concession Road 3
Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study, Phases 3 & 4

Notice of Study Date of Issue: February 24, 2026

Background

A single 2-lane bridge along Lindsay Street (Kawartha Lakes Road 121) provides the only river
crossing in the community of Fenelon Falls. This bridge represents a critical link in the local
transportation system and is experiencing increasing congestion as growth occurs in the
surrounding area. To explore potential solutions to this problem, the City of Kawartha Lakes
completed Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) process in
2021, as documented in the Fenelon Falls Second Crossing Study. This study identified that
additional crossing capacity was required in/around Fenelon Falls and found that a new bridge
crossing the Burnt River on Somerville Concession Road 3 (3rd Concession) was the preferred
alternative to provide this capacity. This study identified that further investigations should be
completed prior to advancing to implementation of the second crossing on 3rd Concession. As
such, the City is proceeding with Phases 3 and 4 of the MCEA process to further explore the
preferred alternative and obtain the additional information necessary to make a fully informed
decision prior to proceeding to implementation.

The study area is shown in the image below.

Study Process

The City is proceeding with Phases 3 and 4 of a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental
Assessment (EA) to consider the impacts associated with the proposed crossing. The Class EA
process will address the following:

Existing and future traffic operations and conditions along 3rd Concession and within Fenelon
Falls, including operations at key intersections;
alternative designs implementing the improvements and addressing the identified future needs;
the location, extent and sensitivity of the existing environments within the area;
the potential impacts of each alternative design to the noted environments and possible
mitigating measures;
public and agency consultation and participation; and
an assessment and evaluation of the alternative designs culminating in a preferred design.

Purpose of Notice

The purpose of this notice is to invite public/agency input and comment early in the study such that
they can be incorporated into the planning and overall study design. Comments should be directed
to the City and/or Consultant as noted below. A further opportunity for public input and comment
will be provided at a Public Information Centre (open house) to be held in the upcoming months,
during which time the various alternative designs and assessment of each will be presented.
Further details with respect to the Public Information Centre will be provided closer to the date.

Project Contacts

Owner
City of Kawartha Lakes
322 Kent Street
Lindsay, ON K9V 4T7

Taylor Burke
Senior Engineering Technician
tburke@kawarthalakes.ca
705-324-9411 ext 1153

Consultant
Tatham Engineering Ltd.
115 Sanford Fleming Drive, Suite 200
Collingwood, ON L9Y 5A6

John Velick, P.Eng.
Project Manager
jvelick@tathameng.com
705 444-2565 ext. 2110