Roundabouts Proposed for Four Intersections on Grand River Street North

A project map highlights the four intersections along Grand River Street North in Paris where the County of Brant plans to install modern roundabouts as part of a multi-year reconstruction project.

Casandra Turnbull 

Managing Editor

The County of Brant is preparing to move forward with plans that would introduce a series of roundabouts along Grand River Street North, a major traffic-carrying corridor through Paris, as part of a broader infrastructure program reviewed during the Nov. 18 Administration and Operations Committee meeting.

The multi-year reconstruction plan includes four roundabouts at Watt’s Pond Road, Hartley Avenue, Scott Avenue, and Trillium Way/Bradbury Crescent, key intersections shown on the project map presented to councillors in an information package. These upgrades form the backbone of a broader strategy to improve traffic flow and safety along one of Paris’s busiest and fastest-growing corridors.

The report also outlined that the roundabout configuration remains the preferred long-term solution due to improved efficiency, reduced queueing at peak hours and fewer severe collisions compared with signalized intersections. With significant residential growth in the north end of Paris, Council has emphasized the importance of getting ahead of demand rather than reacting after congestion worsens.

The committee also supported a key procedural step, recommending that staff be directed to start the Operations Capital project tender process in advance of the 2026 Budget Deliberations and approval to ensure that the projects are tendered at the most advantageous time of year.

This early-tendering direction signals Council’s intent to keep timelines tight and avoid delays that often accompany late-season bidding. It also positions the County to secure more favourable pricing, as contractors typically offer more competitive bids when tenders are issued early in the year.

While the report outlines the project’s next phases, the full construction schedule depends on Council’s 2026 budget deliberations. Staff noted that design work, utility coordination and phasing plans will continue through 2025 so the County is prepared to proceed swiftly once funding is formally approved.

County staff also emphasized the need for a strong public communication plan in advance of construction, given the scale of the work and its effect on travel throughout the community.

In addition to the Grand River Street North roundabouts, the report flagged several other Operations Capital projects expected to benefit from early tendering. These include general road rehabilitation, underground infrastructure replacements and active transportation improvements. More detailed reports on these initiatives will appear during the 2026 budget cycle.