Muskoka Rd. 117, Baysville - A 'Muskoka Main Streets' Initiative

Curious about how the MR 117 Muskoka Main Streets project is moving along? Have questions?
Join us at the upcoming Construction Café! This is a relaxed, come-and-go gathering.
Grab a coffee, connect with the team, and ask your questions.

📍Baysville Library, 10 University St.
🗓️ June 26 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Come by anytime between these hours. We’d love to see you there!

Baysville is Open for Business!

During construction on MR 117, the businesses that make Baysville such a special destination remain open and ready to welcome you. Whether you're stopping in for a meal, picking up supplies, or exploring local shops, your favourite Baysville businesses will be accessible throughout the project.

We know construction can feel disruptive, and we appreciate your patience as we work to build a better main street for everyone. As part of the project, wayfinding signage will be installed to help drivers better find available overflow parking areas.

Supporting local businesses during this time makes a real difference to the community. Plan a visit, grab a coffee, and see the progress firsthand; the end result will be a more beautiful, walkable, and welcoming Baysville for residents and visitors alike.

May 7, 2026 Update:

Here's a look at work planned for the remainder of 2026:
The roundabout and underground roadwork between Dickie Street and Bay Street are both on track to wrap up by the end of spring/early summer 2026.
From there, crews will shift to surface roadwork from MR2 to Bay Street, followed shortly after by a phase covering MR2 to University Street in mid-summer.
As summer winds down, the focus will turn to landscaping and streetscaping, giving the corridor the polished, finished look the community has been waiting for.
We're aiming for full contract completion in winter 2026.

Please note that all dates and durations are subject to change due to weather, supply availability, or other unforeseen circumstances. Check back here for the latest updates.

May 12, 2026 Update:

The roundabout is beginning to take shape:

More photos are available in the right-hand menu of the main page.

What is a roundabout?
A roundabout is a circular intersection where traffic flows continuously counter-clockwise around a central island. No stop signs or traffic signals are needed.

Roundabouts offer some great benefits for our community:
🚙 Safer intersections: Fewer conflict points and naturally slower speeds make roundabouts significantly safer than traditional intersections.
🚦 Smoother traffic flow: No more sitting at a red light when there's nobody coming. Traffic keeps moving, which is great news on busy summer days.
💲 Lower operating costs: No electricity costs and less maintenance than traffic signals make roundabouts a smart long-term investment for the community.
🌎 Better for the environment: Less idling means fewer emissions. Small improvements add up across thousands of vehicles a day.

Our traffic engineers carefully study each intersection to find the best solution for that specific location, whether that's a roundabout or a traditional traffic signal.

How to safely navigate a roundabout

Click for a PDF version.

1. Approaching the roundabout:
* Slow down as you approach the yield line
* Watch for pedestrians and cyclists who may be crossing
* Yield to traffic already in the roundabout – vehicles in the circle always have the right-of-way
* Look for a safe gap in traffic before entering

2. Entering the roundabout:
* Check for pedestrians crossing at the entrance and yield to them
* Look for cyclists and other vehicles
* Enter when there's a safe gap in the circulating traffic
* Travel counter-clockwise, keeping to the right of the central island
* Keep moving – once you're in the roundabout, maintain your speed and don't stop

3. Exiting the roundabout:
* Signal right before your exit
* Watch for pedestrians and cyclists at the crosswalk
* Exit smoothly and continue on your way

A few things to keep in mind
🚛 Large vehicles: Please give trucks, buses, and other large vehicles extra space.
🚶‍♀️ Pedestrians: Never cross to the central island. Always use the designated crosswalks, wait for gaps in traffic, and only cross when it's safe to do so.
🚴 Cyclists: Experienced cyclists can ride through the roundabout alongside other vehicles. If you're riding through, move to the centre of your travel lane before entering and stay there until you've exited. Less experienced cyclists should dismount and walk their bikes through the crosswalks, following the same rules as pedestrians.
🚒 Emergency vehicles: If you hear sirens and haven't entered the roundabout yet, pull over to the right and let the emergency vehicle pass. If you're already in the roundabout, continue to your exit, then pull over to the right. Never stop inside the roundabout—this blocks traffic and delays emergency response.

April 8, 2026 Update:

This week you'll see the construction crew starting to mobilize on site, with work anticipated to begin next week.

April 14, 2026 Update:

A quick update on construction timing

Due to the heavy rainfall Muskoka has been experiencing, the start of active construction on MR 117 has been delayed. We want to make sure conditions are safe and suitable for both our crew and the quality of the work being done.

We appreciate your patience, the team is ready to get going and work is expected to begin once the weather cooperates.

Spring is around the corner, and so is the next phase of construction on MR 117

Construction crews will be returning to the MR 117 project site this week to prepare for the 2026 construction season, which kicks off in early April. This phase will take the project from Bridge St. all the way to Bay St., with the full section expected to be complete by the end of 2026.

Staff will share more updates as the project moves forward. Thank you for attending the Construction Cafés with your questions, patience and support as we work to improve this important corridor in the community.

Oct. 3, 2025 Update:
Stage 1 starting soon: Construction on the new curb and sidewalk along Muskoka Rd. 117 from south of University St. to Brunel Rd. will begin the week of Oct 6.