South Main Street Bridge Eco-Park Environmental Assessment

The City of Thorold initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study to address concerns related to the South Main Street Bridge and Pedestrian Linkage in the Port Robinson area. The Class EA was carried out as Schedule "B'' undertaking in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process, approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (1990).

McIntosh Perry Consulting Engineers Ltd. was originally retained by the City to facilitate the Class EA to address the need to provide a safe and reliable pedestrian linkage between South Main St. and Cross St. in the Port Robinson community. After the Class EA, City of Thorold retained the services of RJ Burnside to create a conceptual rendering of a proposed Port Robinson Ecological Park (Eco-Park) at the South Main Street Bridge general location. The creation of an ecological park provides an opportunity to enhance an existing ecological habitat and an abandoned bridge currently used as a popular fishing hole/walkway connecting communities across an old canal waterway known for its wildlife. The Eco-Park design has an opportunity to reinforce the vision and character of the neighborhood while maintaining the ecological connection and environmental sensitivities.

The City of Thorold has commenced the detailed design phase for the South Main Street Bridge located in Port Robinson. The bridge is located between Cross St. (north) and South Main Street (south) over the former Welland River, now a segmented watercourse within Port Robinson in Thorold. The proposed design will be based on the mutually agreed “Preferred Design Concept Plan/3D Rendering” between the residents and the City. The detail design will also be in line with the display slides presented in the September 27, 2023 Public Information Centre that was held at the Port Robinson Community Centre.

Update (June 25, 2026)

At the City's request, the Ministry extended the deadline for resuming the Burial Site Investigation fieldwork until May 2026 to facilitate these funding discussions and scope modifications. Staff have prepared a draft work plan for the Burial Site Investigation and Stage 3 site-specific archaeological assessment, which has been circulated to both Ministries and participating Indigenous First Nations communities for review, and feedback. Further modifications are required.

During archaeological investigations undertaken as a part of the South Main Street Bridge detailed design, significant archaeological resources were identified within the northern limits of the project area. Consequently, the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (MPBSDP) and the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism directed the City to undertake a Burial Site Investigation and a Stage 3 site-specific archaeological assessment before the project can proceed.

In consultation with the MPBSDP's Burial Site Investigation Unit, the archaeological fieldwork was temporarily paused in December 2025 to provide the City with an opportunity to investigate potential external funding opportunities and refine the scope. At the city's request, the MPBSDP agreed to extend the timeline for restarting the field investigation until May 2026.

Staff have continued to refine the work plan and project scope to satisfy the MPBSDP requirements while minimizing the financial impact on the city. Through this process, two draft cemetery buffer options (20m and 30m buffer) were developed involving the designation of portions of city-owned lands as protected cemetery lands, thereby reducing the extent of archaeological excavation required.

Staff have also continued discussions with the MPBSDP Burial Site Investigation Unit regarding potential finding assistance through the undue financial burdens program. The MPBSDP has not confirmed whether funding will ultimately be available.