Each year, we improve and upgrade our local roads. This helps prepare them for continued use and keeps drivers, cyclists and pedestrians safe.

On this page:

  1. About road construction
  2. Current road closures
  3. Cost of road construction
  4. How road construction affects you
  5. Let us know what you think
  6. Road project contracts
  7. Apply for a work permit

About road construction

In some cases, we simply replace the surface of a worn, cracked road surface. These short-term projects include:

  • grinding up and replacing existing asphalt
  • repairing curbs
  • laying new asphalt

Other projects require more work, which often includes replacing worn, outdated or failing infrastructure, such as:

  • roads
  • buried pipes, such as water, sewer, gas mains

We do this work because:

  1. The pipes or road surface within the road may be old and due for replacement, which is typically 70 to 100 years for older pipes. After that period of time passes and depending on the condition of the road and underground pipes, parts will begin to wear, break and fail. Our goal is to replace these aging assets before they interrupt service, as well as our own municipal assets.
  2. The older infrastructure - whether it's a road or a pipe - may be too small to handle higher volumes that come with growth. This infrastructure must be made larger to accommodate the increased use and demand.

Current road closures

Check our list of road closures for roads the city is working on. Use this map to see city and regional road construction projects.

How road construction affects you

Road construction projects may affect your life or commute. Please be patient if work is scheduled to take place in your area. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Learn more on our impacts of road construction page.

Let us know what you think

Visit our Engage Kitchener page to find:

  • more information about road reconstruction projects
  • staff contact information
  • opportunity to ask questions about a project near you

On our current construction projects page, you can find staff contact information for construction projects across Kitchener.

Road project contracts

We do not have our own road reconstruction crews and equipment. We contract this work out to private construction companies that are awarded contracts through a competitive bidding process.

The planning, design, management and day-to-day control over a project is done by either:

  • our own staff as a complete in-house operation
  • a private engineering consulting firm, who is awarded the contract through a competitive bidding process (city staff are still included on the consultant's project team, and we still have the final say on how the project proceeds)

Cost of road construction

We use these sources to pay for road construction projects:

  • our property tax base
  • user fees (example: your water bill) for projects that include rebuilding water and sewer pipes
  • other utilities, such as natural gas, electrical, and telecommunications, pay for their portions of the construction based on the amount of work done to their property during the project.

We do not charge residents directly for road construction.

How to apply for a road work permit

You need a work permit to occupy or close any city road, sidewalk or boulevard to conduct work or other activities. You cannot carry out work on any part of a city road, sidewalk or boulevard without a valid permit. If you do work without a permit, we may issue fines.

You must apply for a permit a minimum of 5 business days before you plan to start work.
Internet-connected device and printer.
Fill out the application

Download the application and complete it, including work plan and TCP for work zone.
Include a certificate of insurance

You must include a certificate of insurance as shown in the application form.
Send us your application and insurance

Send your form by email to either:

In your application, include these completed forms:

  • work permit application
  • certificate of insurance
Pay the fee

Our user fee schedule includes the permit fees for each type of project. The cost may vary based on the permit, length of the project or use of the road.

We invoice for all of the fees when the work is complete.

Regional roads

If you need a permit for a regional road, apply through the Region of Waterloo. Check the full regional road listing.