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Statement On Traffic Issues On March, March Valley, and Cameron Harvey

July 22, 2026

Statement from West Carleton-March Councillor Clarke Kelly


Many residents have reached out to my office with concerns about the traffic issues that have arisen as a result of concurrent work taking place on March Rd., March Valley Rd., and planned work on Cameron Harvey Dr. that has seen lanes reduced or roads closed entirely, necessitating detours and long commutes.


As someone who regularly drives these roads from the Dunrobin area, I have experienced these delays firsthand and understand how frustrating they can be.


I am currently working closely with City staff, advocating for any reasonable and safe measures that can be introduced during this short period of disruption to help residents navigate these roads.


The disruptions on March Rd. are extremely inconvenient for nearly all residents of Dunrobin and many other Ward 5 residents, and this has been an ongoing struggle over the past few years.


March Valley Rd. being closed has exacerbated the problem and pushed more cars onto an already overwhelmed March Rd.

I have spoken previously about the developments on March Road and the need for better long-term planning to accommodate the increase in traffic that has accompanied this growth. One of the reasons I opposed the last urban boundary expansion was because of this sort of construction and the work that needs to take place on infrastructure before approval.


Working with City staff and the adjacent Councillor, we were able to bring attention to the challenges facing March Road and make meaningful progress. This includes a front-ending agreement that will accelerate the installation of much-needed intersection improvements.


This is a positive thing in the larger picture but has caused significant delay and frustration for residents trying to make their way home to Ward 5. I do not want our residents to struggle through traffic to get back to the best ward in the city and will be pushing for clearer timelines and communication so residents are prepared for what they will see on the roads.

This work is, unfortunately, necessary. While the timing is understandably frustrating for everyone using these roads, completing as much of it as possible before the end of the summer will ultimately reduce the need for further disruptions later. Our roads (and these roads especially) will see a dramatic increase in traffic come September and having this work continue into the autumn is not something that I am prepared to support.

The timing of this recent storm was extremely unfortunate given the already planned work on Cameron Harvey Dr. and the ongoing work on March Rd.


The work on March Valley Rd. is in response to an emergency that took place on July 1st that threatened the integrity of the road structure. The City needed to shut this route quickly to ensure the safety of drivers on their roads.


We remain in regular contact with City staff to help move this work forward as quickly as possible, while acknowledging the need to ensure the route is safe prior to reopening. Work is currently taking place with the goal to have the road open in August.

I have spent a lot of time at the Council table talking about the need for our roads to be resurfaced and maintained. In our last budget consultation, over 70% of residents in Ward 5 chose roads and road maintenance as the most important area in need of funding. The work on Cameron Harvey Dr. is many years in the making and is slated to be short in duration, while not closing the road. I am hopeful these disruptions will be minimal because the risk of pausing this work is significant given the full calendar of City contractors.


I will continue pushing for better, safer roads while working to reduce the disruption these projects cause. We are managing multiple challenges, some within our control and others that are not, but my focus remains on finding practical solutions that improve residents' daily commutes. I will continue to keep the community informed about any changes to project timelines and advocate for every reasonable mitigation measure that can help make these drives easier.




If you have questions about this issue or any other City matter, my team and I are always happy to help. We are here to support residents and will continue working with you to navigate issues, answer questions, and connect you with the resources you need.


You can contact us at:


Phone: 613-580-2475


Office of Councillor Clarke Kelly

5670 Carp Road

Kinburn, ON

K0A 2H0


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