Ontario Investing over $6 million for Bridge Repairs in Smiths Falls
February 17, 2026
Province protecting jobs and driving economic growth in rural and northern communities
February 17, 2026
Smiths Falls – As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the government is investing $6,614,395 to help the Town of Smiths Falls rehabilitate its Beckwith Street structures and intersection improvements at the Lombard/Brockville/Jasper Street intersections. The funding is being delivered through the 2026-27 Connecting Links program, which helps maintain vital roads and bridges that connect people to good jobs, support the movement of goods and drive economic growth in rural and northern communities.
“The people of Smiths Falls and area deserve access to safe, reliable transportation infrastructure – and that’s what our government is delivering,” said John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. “Through the Connecting Links program, we’re keeping communities moving across the province as we continue our work to protect Ontario. We’re making it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to get to where they need to go.”
A connecting link is a designated municipal road or bridge that connects two ends of a provincial highway through a community or to an international border crossing. This year, the Ontario government is investing over $46 million in 21 projects to repair roads and bridges in 20 municipalities across the province.
“The Town of Smiths Falls is committed to the ongoing rehabilitation and replacement of its key infrastructure. Roads and bridges, especially those on our highest volume streets, take priority,” said Shawn Pankow, Mayor of Smiths Falls. “The Town is once again very thankful to the Province of Ontario and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria for the grant of over $6.6 million through the Connecting Link program, enabling the rehabilitation of two aged and deteriorating bridges over the Rideau Canal and the redevelopment of the intersection connecting Beckwith Street South, Jasper Avenue and Brockville and Lombard Streets. This work will preserve these bridges for generations, and the redevelopment of this high-volume intersection will enhance safety and improve traffic flows.”
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is making historic investments in highway infrastructure to drive economic growth and protect Ontario,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By helping municipalities invest in critical road repairs, we’re improving connections across the province and building a stronger, more competitive and resilient Ontario.”
Eligible costs for Connecting Links include the design, construction, renewal, rehabilitation and replacement of designated municipal roads and bridges. Municipalities are encouraged to apply for 2027-28 Connecting Links program funding when the intake opens later this year.
Quick Facts
• The Connecting Links program provides funding for up to 90 per cent of eligible project costs. This includes a maximum of $5 million for road projects and $7 million for bridge projects.
• In Ontario, there are a total of 352 kilometres of connecting links, with 70 bridges in 77 municipalities.
MPP John Jordan, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston
www.johnjordanmpp.ca
john.jordan@pc.ola.org
613-284-1630
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