GUELPH – Wellington County plans to spend over $45 million on capital road projects next year – with about $4 million covered by speed camera revenue.
A 2026 capital construction report presented at an Oct. 14 roads committee meeting, states the county’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) program will fund six projects with revenue collected to the end of June.
Since Jan. 15, the ASE one-year pilot program has racked up $18.7 million in gross revenue as of Sept. 30. The county’s portion is $7.1 million. A similar amount has gone to Alberta-based Global Traffic Group, which splits revenue with the county after the province takes its “victim component” and search fees (about 25 per cent of the average ticket).
County council provided staff with direction on how to utilize ASE revenue in a policy that was approved in April.
A project in Centre Wellington is the most expensive proposed, at $1.9 million.
It features intersection improvements at Wellington Road 21 and 8th Line, including turning lanes, grading corrections on curves and guardrail improvements.
Overlay paving of Wellington Road 21 from Wellington Road 7 to the Region of Waterloo boundary (Woolwich-Pilkington Townline) is also included in this project.
The report notes there have been 72 collisions in the past five years on this segment of road. Fifteen are specific to the Wellington Road 21/8th Line intersection and three to the curve.
(The latest collision took place at the intersection on Oct. 15 between a SUV and tractor trailer. The crash resulted in minor injuries and a careless driving charge for the driver of the SUV.)
The second major project, improvements at the intersection Wellington Road 30 and Township Road 3 in Guelph/Eramosa, is expected to cost $1 million.
It includes a turning lane and overlay paving of Wellington Road 30 from Wellington Road 86 to the Waterloo boundary (Woolwich-Guelph Townline).
“This road segment has seen 35 collisions in the past five years, with 14 specifically at the intersection,” the report states.
County treasurer Ken DeHart told the Advertiser plans for the Centre Wellington and Guelph/Eramosa projects “will be formalized in the preliminary 2026 budget and 10-year plan that will go to committees and council next month.”
Other proposed projects to be funded by ASE revenue include:
- streetlighting at rural intersections, $350,000;
- guardrails (various locations throughout the county), $350,000;
- road safety (“speed management”) $300,000; and
- a Wellington Road 46 corridor study, $100,000.
Other projects
The capital construction spending report, which will be reviewed by county council next week, also includes six other major projects not covered ASE revenue.
In the report, the projects are listed with a priority condition rating and risk rating, which roads manager Joe de Koning told the Advertiser “demonstrate the need for the work to be completed in 2026.”
The largest project proposed is the reconstruction of Wellington Road 123 (Main Street) in Palmerston, estimated at $13.9 million.
The second most expensive projects is the reconstruction of Winston Churchill, from Old Baseline to Wellington Road 52, in Erin, for $13 million.
Next is the $9.14-million reconstruction of Wellington Road 124, from Whitelaw Road to Guelph Line 1, in Guelph/Eramosa. The project includes twin roundabouts at Wellington Road 32 north and south.
Other priority projects include:
- $3.5 million for the recycling of the existing road and new asphalt paving on Wellington Road 18, from Wellington Road 7 to the Waterloo boundary, in Centre Wellington;
- $1 million for a culvert replacement on Wellington Road 10 in Mapleton; and
- $750,000 for a culvert replacement on Wellington Road 12 in Mapleton.
Of the six projects, the Wellington Road 18 project in Centre Wellington has the highest risk rating.
The Winston Churchill project in Erin has the worst rated condition by asset type.
Asked what project, depending on priority, should begin first, de Koning stated, “Schedules will be determined after designs are complete, tenders have been received [and] contracts awarded.”
He added the schedule “can also [be] impacted by permitting requirements from conservation authorities and in-stream work restrictions.”
