City completes Frederica Street resurfacing; plans future Frederica Street and Drummond Road improvements
NIAGARA FALLS, ON - The City of Niagara Falls is moving forward with road and infrastructure improvements in the Frederica Street and Drummond Road area through Operation Smooth Roads, the City’s five-year plan to upgrade, repair and renew streets across Niagara Falls.
What motorists may not know is that the work includes three areas at different stages of improvement: a completed resurfacing project on Frederica Street, planned reconstruction of the remaining section of Frederica Street to Drummond Road, and planned road and underground infrastructure improvements on Drummond Road between Lundy’s Lane and Frederica Street.
The City uses road conditions, traffic volumes, maintenance history and the condition of underground infrastructure to determine when and how roads are repaired, resurfaced or reconstructed. This approach helps ensure investments are directed where they are needed most while extending the life of the City’s infrastructure.
Frederica Street
Highway 420 off-ramps to Glenholme Avenue: Complete
This section of Frederica Street was resurfaced this year after assessments determined the roadway and underground watermain and sewer infrastructure were in fair condition.
Resurfacing extends the life of the roadway, improves driving conditions and helps avoid more costly reconstruction in the future.
Glenholme Avenue to Drummond Road: Design planned for 2027; construction planned for 2027/2028, subject to Council and budget approval
This section of Frederica Street has more significant infrastructure needs, including drainage concerns, poor sidewalk conditions, deficiencies with the road cross-section and profile, combined sewers and watermains with a history of breaks.
Additional investigation and detailed engineering are required to better understand the age, condition, location and functionality of the existing infrastructure.
City staff recommend a full reconstruction of the road corridor for this section. The roadway also serves as an outlet for future combined sewer separation work in the area south toward Lundy’s Lane.
Subject to Council and budget approval, engineering design is planned for 2027, with construction to follow in 2027/2028.
When complete, the project is expected to improve drainage, address aging infrastructure, enhance accessibility and provide a smoother, safer roadway.
Drummond Road
Lundy's Lane to Frederica Street: Design underway in 2026; construction planned for 2027, subject to Council and budget approval
Engineering design is underway for improvements on Drummond Road between Lundy's Lane and Frederica Street.
The project includes replacing and upsizing the aging 1964 cast-iron watermain, which has a history of watermain breaks and was identified in the City's Master Servicing Plan for replacement.
Drummond Road is a key four-lane north-south arterial connecting provincial highways and regional roads. The existing road surface is also in poor condition and requires intervention.
Subject to Council and budget approval, construction is planned to begin in 2027. Following the underground infrastructure work, the roadway is expected to be fully resurfaced at the conclusion of the project in 2028.
The improvements will help improve water service reliability, reduce the risk of future watermain breaks and extend the life of the roadway.
The City is also exploring opportunities to coordinate work on Drummond Road with the planned Frederica Street reconstruction to improve efficiency and reduce future disruptions.
A long-term approach to smoother roads
Operation Smooth Roads is a strategic, five-year initiative focused on maintaining and renewing Niagara Falls' road network. Depending on roadway and infrastructure conditions, projects may range from resurfacing to full road reconstruction.
With approximately 1,230 lane-kilometres of paved roads, the City must carefully prioritize investments to maximize safety, reliability and long-term value for taxpayers.
Higher-volume and higher-speed roads are prioritized in accordance with Provincial Regulation O. Reg. 239/02. In contrast, local roads, crescents and cul-de-sacs are maintained as part of the City's broader road management approach.
The City of Niagara Falls thanks residents for their patience and understanding as these improvements move forward.
For more information about Operation Smooth Roads and current road projects, visit letstalk.niagarafalls.ca/operation-smooth-roads or contact At Your Service Niagara Falls at 905-356-7521, or by e-mailing service@niagarafalls.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Erik Nickel
General Manager of Municipal Works
City of Niagara Falls
enickel@niagarafalls.ca