Williamsville Renewal
Newest updates:
Princess Street is closed between Division Street and Frontenac Street, effective April 20.
Current road access information can be found in our News Feed.
Background
The City of Kingston and Utilities Kingston will reconstruct Princess Street (from Division Street to Albert Street) and Garrett Street in 2026. This substantial infrastructure renewal project will upgrade utilities both above and below ground while enhancing safety and comfort for pedestrians and cyclists.
Street and roadway highlights include:
- Installation of new cycle tracks along Princess Street.
- Upgrade accessibility at road crossings.
- Upgrade transit stops and infrastructure.
- Separate combined sewers and replace sanitary services.
- Install new watermain with service replacements.
- Upgrade Kingston Hydro infrastructure.
- Reconstruct sidewalks and curbs.
- Repave the roadway.
- Review and recommend options for side street parking areas to compensate for some of the parking spaces removed from Princess Street.
- Consider areas for street trees, planter boxes and other street furniture, such as benches.
- Construction of the Frontenac Street Parkette.
The reconstruction of Princess Street in this area is driven by the need to upgrade the infrastructure and is guided by the Williamsville Main Street Transportation Study, completed in 2024 following extensive public consultation. For more details on that study, please visit the archived project pages on Get Involved Kingston.
This major infrastructure project is being delivered in partnership with Utilities Kingston and is supported in part through funding contributions from multiple sources, including:
- The Government of Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), which is providing partial funding from a $10.4‑million DMAF grant.
- The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, which is contributing partial funding from ~$3.1 million in federal grant dollars and partial funding from ~$2.3 million in provincial grant dollars.
- The Province of Ontario’s Housing‑Enabling Water Systems Fund with an investment of ~$7 million.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Government of Canada’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), which is providing partial funding from a $27.6‑million HAF grant.
- Green Streets, which is contributing partial funding from $229,000 in grant dollars.
Stay informed
Keep updated on this exciting project by using the Follow Project feature on this page. Submit your email, and any project updates posted here will be sent to your inbox.
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Update: Water Interruption Notice - Beginning May 21
UPDATED Thursday, May 21, 11:20 a.m.:
Please note the water interruption scheduled for Thursday, May 21, at 10 p.m., has been postponed to Monday, May 25, at 10 p.m.
The water interruption scheduled for Friday, May 22, will go ahead as planned. This interruption will take place on Princess Street between Division and University and should only last for approximately 30 minutes per address.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Tomlinson is notifying residents of important upcoming work that will be taking place in the area of Princess Street from approximately Division to Frontenac, and Frontenac north to Jenkins. See the below map for affected addresses. The team will be performing essential maintenance on the existing water supply system.
This work is scheduled to occur during the following consecutive days:
- Thursday, May 21, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and, if required
- Friday, May 22, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
During this time, the water in your residence/facility will be temporarily turned off to perform the necessary work in the area. You will be unable to access any water services, including but not limited to sinks, washing machines, toilets, and showers. We encourage you to plan accordingly for this interruption.
Please be advised that you may experience slight water discoloration or air in your line (white water or noise) after the water has been turned back on. This is normal; please turn on your taps, cold and hot, and let the water run until it clears.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this work, please use the following contacts:
Kyle Quesnel (Superintendent)
613-875-6098
KQuesnel@TomlinsonGroup.comClaudio Cavalcante (Project Coordinator)
613-913-8500
CCavalcante@TomlinsonGroup.comWe appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this essential maintenance work.
Thank you for your patience as we work to provide the community with the highest standards of service.
Sincerely,
R.W. Tomlinson
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Road access during phase-one construction
Here’s a quick update about road access during the first phase of construction, which got underway on April 20, 2026.
Princess Street between Division Street and Frontenac Street is closed. The good news is that both the Princess/Division and Princess/Frontenac intersections remain open; the road closures begin beyond the intersections. Please note that on-street parking isn't available within the closed section.
As noted in red on the below map, Princess Street between Division and University is completely closed to traffic. Only emergency vehicles may access this portion of the street.
The streets highlighted in blue on the map are open to local traffic only, meaning access is available for residents, businesses, and deliveries within the boundary.
As construction progresses, street access and intersections may adjust from time to time to keep work moving safely and efficiently. Please watch for posted signs and follow detours - they’ll always reflect the most up‑to‑date conditions.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as this important work moves forward!
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Williamsville construction begins April 20
We are set to begin work on the Williamsville Renewal, a significant infrastructure project to create a vibrant, active and connected corridor in the community!
R.W. Tomlinson Ltd. has been contracted to complete this major project.
Construction will begin on Princess Street between Division Street and Frontenac Street on April 20, 2026. On-street parking will not be available within the closure boundaries.
Communications have begun in the past few weeks, with a mailout campaign reaching more than 6,300 addresses in the area and a Curbex sign located at Princess and University to inform pedestrians and other commuters.
This work will renew Princess Street from Division to Albert and Garrett Street, as well as build the Frontenac Street Parkette. Construction will take place over two years. Phase one will begin in Spring 2026, with roadways expected to open in Winter 2026 for seasonal construction shutdowns. Phase two work will start again in early Spring 2027.
Once completed, this stretch of Princess Street will include:
New cycle tracks along Princess Street
Improved accessibility at road crossings
Upgraded transit stops and shelters
Separation of combined sewers and replacement sanitary services
New watermain with service replacements
Upgraded Kingston Hydro infrastructure
Reconstructed sidewalks and curbs
Repaved roadways
This is a major milestone for this project and the community. We look forward to working together to create a renewed, refreshed area in which to live, work, and play.
This Get Involved Kingston project page will be the hub for updates along with ongoing social media and signage in the areas around the project. Specific information about navigating in the area while work is underway are available as follows:
Road closures and traffic disruptions will be communicated through Municipal511 and physical signage. This information is automatically pushed to Waze, Google Maps, Apple Maps, and other navigation platforms that are commonly used.
Kingston Transit service changes, including detours or stop relocations, are updated through the Transit App and at Kingston Transit. These updates are dynamic and reflect current conditions as they change.
We are committed to keeping Williamsville and the greater Kingston community informed every step of the way.
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Second Public Information Centre
On Nov. 20, 2025 the second of two Public Information Sessions was held to share project details with the community. Presentation materials from the event are available to view on this page.
What we heard
Parking: ensuring access to driveways during construction was highlighted. Another commenter was disappointed to see parking on both sides of Frontenac Street.
Active transportation: A concern was raised about a lack of active transportation options available on Frontenac Street, as well as concerns that the pathway through the Frontenac Street Parkette would encourage conflict between micromobility and people enjoying the parkette.
Stormwater: Questions were asked about the age of the stormwater system on Frontenac Street and whether that would be replaced. Concerns were expressed about street elevation, curb bump-outs and how that would impact stormwater flow.
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First Public Information Centre
On Sept. 25 the first of two Public Information Sessions was held to share project details with the community. Presentation materials from the event are available to view on this page.
What we heard
Participants at the information session were encouraged to leave comments on the design. A summary of what we heard is below. Comments and feedback are reviewed and carefully considered by the project team.
Construction management and impact: There was some focus on the construction phase of the project, suggesting lessons could be learned from the previous big dig along Princess by engaging the construction industry. As well as concerns about impacts during construction, specifically access to services located along Princess Street.
Design comments: Comments pointed out that some buildings in the area already have bus stops and benches. While others focused on signal timing, requesting longer pedestrian crossing times and consideration of a two-stage pedestrian crossing at Frontenac Street.
Parking: Reducing parking was suggested to support active travel options.
