Media Release - October 15, 2026 - Municipality of Kincardine Calls on Province to Take Immediate Action on Highway 21 Safety Improvements

KINCARDINE, ON – The Municipality of Kincardine is calling on the Province of Ontario to take immediate action to improve road safety along Highway 21, particularly in the area of Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School (KTTPS).

Council has advocated for safety improvements along this section of Highway 21 for several years through Council resolutions, traffic study reviews and ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) and other partners. A third-party traffic study supported the need for a northbound left-turn lane at Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School, but the MTO indicated construction would be considered as part of its regular 10- to 15-year highway rehabilitation cycle. The Municipality also pursued a speed limit reduction between Bruce Avenue and the North Line, which was not supported by the MTO. These efforts helped advance the Community Safety Zone application, but Council continues to advocate for further improvements.

At its recent meeting, Municipality of Kincardine Council passed a motion directing staff to formally request that the Province reconsider its previous decisions regarding safety improvements along Highway 21, recognizing the importance of protecting local families, students and motorists who travel this busy corridor every day.

Specifically, Council is requesting two priority actions:

• • An immediate reduction in the posted speed limit on Highway 21 between Bruce Avenue and the North Line to improve safety for motorists and families travelling through the area.
  • Accelerated construction of a northbound left-turn lane at Kincardine Township-Tiverton Public School as a stand-alone road safety improvement, rather than waiting for the Ministry of Transportation's regular 10- to 15-year highway rehabilitation cycle.

Council's motion emphasizes that these improvements should not be delayed as part of longer-term highway rehabilitation planning, given the importance of addressing safety concerns for those who use this section of Highway 21 daily.

“Families in our community travel this stretch of Highway 21 every day, including parents bringing their children to and from school,” said Mayor Kenneth Craig. “Their safety must be a priority. We are asking the Province to recognize the importance of these improvements and take action now, rather than waiting years for the next scheduled highway rehabilitation project.”

The Municipality recognizes that Highway 21 is a provincial highway and that decisions regarding speed limits and roadway improvements fall under the authority of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Through this motion, Council is reinforcing its commitment to advocating for road safety improvements that respond to the needs of the local community.

Advocating for Provincial Action

To reinforce the importance of this request, Council has directed that its motion be shared with Premier Doug Ford, MPP Lisa Thompson, MP Ben Lobb, the Ministers of Transportation, Education, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Finance, and Energy, Bruce County, Ministry of Transportation West Operations Regional Director Geoffry Gladdy, and Inspector Wilcox of the South Bruce OPP Detachment.

The Municipality of Kincardine will continue to advocate for timely, practical safety improvements along Highway 21 and work with provincial partners to advance solutions that protect residents, students and everyone travelling through the community.

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Media Inquiries:
Alan Smith, Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of Kincardine
519-396-3468 x 7109
asmith@kincardine.ca