Riverside Drive Trail

The majority of the urbanized area of Tecumseh is serviced by active transportation infrastructure in the form of sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-purpose trails. The Town is working with the County of Essex as part of the County Wide Active Transportation System (CWATS) to add and improve connections to trails and cycling infrastructure.

In October 2016, Council approved the construction of a 2.4 m wide trail having a length of approximately 2.4 km along Riverside Drive, from the Tecumseh/Windsor municipal boundary to Manning Road, as a 2017 CWATS project.

Bezaire & Associates were retained by the Town to complete the design work, contract administration and inspection of the construction of the Riverside Drive Trail.

Two Public Information Centres (PIC) were held to share details of the project and to gather public input on the Town's initiative to construct a multi-use recreational trail along Riverside Drive. The first PIC was held September 13, 2017 which provided an opportunity for residents to learn about the project. Options under consideration included constructing the multi-use trail in the Town's right-of-way on the south side of the road or the north side of the road. The trail location concept plan was displayed on PIC Boards for public viewing. A summary of the key issues is provided and were significant in formulating the Consultant's recommendation of the multi-use trail location.

The second PIC was held June 6, 2018. The results of the second PIC combined with additional information and analysis are included in the report to Council and associated attachments presented at the April 8, 2021 Special Meeting of Council.

At the June 22, 2021 Regular Meeting of Council (RCM), the Town's consultants presented the technical recommendations for the multi-use trail to Town Council. The presentation addressed additional comments received through the PlaceSpeak platform such as safety concerns, property impacts, and environmental impacts. A copy of the presentation, along with the PlaceSpeak feedback received, is included in Report PWES-2021-29.

Following the June 22, 2021 RCM, direction was given to the Town's Consultants to proceed with the detailed design stage of the Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Project.

Report PWES-2022-06, presented at the March 8, 2022 RCM, provided an update of the progress performed by the Project Team, including a visual presentation of the trail alignment at the 90% design stage and the next steps required to complete the project.

Notification was provided to residents providing updates on the project, information pertaining to design and landscape conflicts, meeting requests, as well as updates respecting utility relocation work.

• Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Update - letter dated July 22, 2021
• Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Landscaping Meetings - letter dated November 22, 2021 (hand delivered)
• Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Landscaping Meetings - letter dated November 26, 2021
• Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Landscaping Meetings - follow-up letter dated March 1, 2022
• Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Utility Work - letter dated May 17, 2022

• Riverside Drive Multi-Use Trail Opens to the Public - media release dated August 9, 2023