The Township of Uxbridge has officially confirmed that the Brock Street culvert project Uxbridge has reached a final cost of just over $26 million, bringing a decades-long infrastructure effort to a close.
At a news conference held in council chambers last Thursday, Mayor Dave Barton and Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Honey announced that the total cost of the Brock Street culvert project Uxbridge, including litigation and settlements, amounted to $26,073,557. Initial estimates placed the project at $10 million in 2010, later revised to $17.6 million in 2018. By May 2022, costs had already risen to $24.2 million.
Despite construction being completed in 2021, several legal matters remain unresolved. Four civil lawsuits are still pending, including a claim by former Coffee Time franchise owner Song Ning, whose business was forced to close after construction damage affected the building’s structure.
Township officials described the Brock Street culvert project Uxbridge as the most complex infrastructure initiative in the municipality’s history. Barton noted the project had been discussed for more than 30 years due to persistent flood risks in the downtown core.
Legal counsel Christopher Lee explained that confidentiality clauses limited public disclosure surrounding certain settlements. One notable case involved an $8.75 million claim against the Township by engineering firm AECOM and Brennan Paving, which was settled for $460,000. Township representatives declined to provide additional details due to legal restrictions.
Concerns were also raised by residents regarding the Region of Durham’s limited financial contribution, which covered only 25 per cent of the culvert section running beneath Brock Street, a regional road. Township officials stated that repeated requests for regional leadership and funding were declined, leaving Uxbridge to proceed independently due to public safety and insurance concerns.
The Brock Street culvert project Uxbridge was designed to significantly reduce flood risk in the downtown area. Prior assessments warned that severe storms could leave Brock Street submerged under several feet of water. With the new twin-channel culvert in place, most of the downtown core has now been removed from the floodplain, allowing for safer conditions and future development.
