Belleville sewage project to support west-end growth set to begin. August 20, 2026 Ontario Construction News staff writer Construction on a major wastewater project in Belleville's west end is scheduled to begin Sept. 1, with the first phase expected to continue through the end of 2028. The Avonlough Sewage Pumping Station project is intended to provide wastewater capacity for future development in the Loyalist West Belleville Secondary Plan area, which the city says could eventually accommodate about 9,000 housing units. The first phase is divided into two contracts. Contract 1 includes construction of a new sewage pumping station and installation of twin sanitary forcemains connecting the station to the western limits of Contract 2. Work at the pumping station site will include foundations and other site works, as well as installation of a sanitary sewer forcemain connecting the station to the Bridge Street West and Marshall Road area. Construction along Bridge Street West between Marshall Road and Palmer Road will include installation of a sanitary sewer forcemain, asphalt resurfacing, curb replacement and boulevard restoration. The broader project also includes additional watermain, storm sewer and road improvements, including work at several intersections along Bridge Street West. Contract 2 will include installation of conveyance piping along Bridge Street West to the existing pipe crossing of the Moira River. The existing wastewater system does not have sufficient capacity to accommodate planned growth in the west end. Once fully built out, the new infrastructure is expected to provide wastewater capacity of about 490 litres per second. The project has an estimated overall cost of about $85 million, up from $38.1 million due to design changes, updated cost estimates, schedule extensions and construction cost escalation. Belleville has received $16.155 million through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. The Avonlough project is part of the city's long-term plan to provide the infrastructure needed to accommodate residential and commercial growth in west Belleville.

Route and schedule updates for Belleville Transit taking effect September 8. Aug 18, 2026 | 2:23 PM Belleville Transit has announced it will be introducing route and schedule updates that will take effect on September 8. The city says that the updates were made following a review of transit ridership and feedback received from riders, Belleville Transit drivers, city council and members of the Transit Operations Advisory Committee. The city says that the changes will provide new or improved transit connections to the Potter's Creek community, Palmer Road between Bridge Street West and Moira Street West, College Street and the Northeast Industrial Park along College Street East, including Amazon. Routes 1, 2, 5A, 5C (formerly 5B) and 7 will remain on their existing routes with minor schedule adjustments. There are no changes to the night route or its schedule. The changes are as follows: * Route 3: Route 3 will no longer service Loyalist College and will instead travel north on Sidney Street to provide service along College Street and to VIA Rail before returning to the Downtown Transit Terminal. The route will operate in both directions as Route 3A (anticlockwise) and Route 3C (clockwise). * Route 4: Route 4 will continue to service Loyalist College, with a route adjustment to travel north on Sidney Street to service Leland Drive before returning to Dundas Street West via Palmer Road. * Route 6: Route 6 will no longer service VIA Rail, which will instead be served by Route 3. At select times throughout the day, an extended 6A route will provide additional service along College Street East to the Northeast Industrial Park, including Amazon. * Route 8: Route 8 will be adjusted to provide service along Palmer Road between Moira Street West and Bridge Street West, as well as the Potter's Creek area via Aldersgate Drive, Hastings Park Drive and Sienna Avenue. An updated route map and schedule can be viewed here, and printed copies will be available at the Downtown Transit Terminal, City Hall and on transit buses starting on Sept. 8. Riders are encouraged to watch for further updates from Belleville Transit and review the new route information before planning trips on or after Sept. 8. For current Belleville Transit routes, schedules and service information, visit Belleville.ca/Transit.

City of Belleville rewarded with $1.24 million for hitting 2025 building target. By Brock Ormond Jul 15, 2026 | 12:23 PM Story by Paul Martin Belleville hit its building target for 2025 and has been rewarded by the province. Minister of municipal affairs and housing Rob Flack was on hand to deliver the good news in person at City Hall, and a check for 1.24 million dollars through the Building Faster Fund on Wednesday. Flack said keeping rent and housing costs down is crucial and the government is doing all it can to help speed the process by making regulatory changes and making moves to encourage development. He says "affordability is back on the menu" thanks to some of these changes. Bay of Quinte MPP Tyler Allsopp says Belleville didn't just meet its target, it "smashed it by 35-per cent" and it was great to see those efforts being rewarded. 418 new homes were built last year. 2025 is the third straight year Belleville has hit its housing target and the second of those years where the target has been exceeded. The funding must be allocated for future development. "As more people choose to call Belleville home, we are working hard to ensure our infrastructure and services keep pace with our community's growth," stated Mayor Neil Ellis. "This investment through the Building Faster Fund will help InQuinte continue creating the conditions needed for new housing while strengthening its community for years to come. Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, up to $1.2 billion program that helps municipalities build more homes faster. The fund rewards municipalities that make significant progress toward their housing targets by providing funding for the infrastructure needed to support new housing and growing communities.