City marks completion of Bayridge Drive transportation improvements

The City of Kingston officially marked the completion of major transportation improvements along Bayridge Drive with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 15, 2026, celebrating a safer, more connected corridor for people walking, rolling, cycling, and taking transit.

The project delivers a continuous, all-ages-and-abilities active transportation route, improving connections between neighbourhoods, transit and local destinations, while enhancing safety for all road users.

“Today’s ribbon cutting marks an important milestone for safe and accessible transit options in Kingston,” says the Honourable Mark Gerretsen, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. “These improvements will ensure that residents have access to sustainable and efficient transit routes, while supporting healthier and more connected neighbourhoods.”

“Bayridge Drive is a key corridor in Kingston’s active transportation network, and this project reflects the City’s commitment to safer, more connected streets,” says Ian Semple, City of Kingston Commissioner, Transportation and Infrastructure Services. “These improvements respond directly to community feedback and give people of all ages and abilities more options to walk, roll, bike and access transit.”

The Bayridge Drive corridor was first identified as a priority route in the City’s Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP), with further direction provided through the Active Transportation Implementation Plan (2019–2023).

With over $6.9 million in funding from the federal government’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Public Transit Infrastructure Stream, the City expanded the project to enhance pedestrian, cycling and transit connections along the corridor. A portion of the route, from Coverdale Drive to Henderson Boulevard, will also form part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

Construction was completed in two phases, starting in 2023 and finishing in spring of 2026.

Key improvements include:

• Dedicated off road multi-use pathways and cycle tracks, providing protected space for people walking and biking
• Intersection upgrades, including bike signals, crossrides and protected intersection safety features
• Island bus platforms and transit shelters to improve access to Kingston Transit service

Community-informed design

Community feedback played an important role in shaping the project. Pre-construction engagement results showed:

• Over 90 per cent of respondents would like to bike along Bayridge Drive
• 80 per cent identified a lack of protected cycling infrastructure as a key barrier
• More than 84 per cent indicated they would use off-road cycling facilities

Residents emphasized the need for greater separation from vehicle traffic, improved intersection safety, enhanced signage and education, and year-round maintenance, which were key considerations in the final design.

The Bayridge Drive improvements support the City’s commitment to giving people of all ages and abilities safer options to get around as Kingston grows. The corridor also represents a key segment of a future north-south route that will connect Creekford Road to Front Road and into downtown Kingston.