March 2, 2026
Province keeping workers on the job and supporting economic growth in rural and northern communities
Havelock, ON — Today, MPP Dave Smith announced the Ontario government is investing $2,026,194 to help the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen (HBM) rehabilitate Ottawa Street East and West. This funding is being delivered through the 2026-27 Connecting Links program, which supports the maintenance of vital municipal roads and bridges that connect provincial highways.
“The people of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen deserve access to safe, reliable transportation infrastructure—and that’s what our government is delivering,” said Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “Ottawa Street is the lifeblood of this village, serving as a critical link for both local residents and the movement of goods along the Highway 7 corridor. By investing over $2 million into this rehabilitation, we are ensuring our roads remain resilient, supporting local jobs and driving economic growth for years to come.”
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 $45 million in 21 projects to repair roads and bridges in 20 municipalities across the province.
“The Connecting Link is infrastructure that is challenging for a small Municipality like Havelock Belmont Methuen to maintain,” said Jim Martin, Mayor, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. “Thank you, MPP Smith and the Provincial government for your continued support. Unlike other roads within our Township, Highway 7 sees a tremendous amount of traffic daily. The over 2-million-dollar grant announced today will allow us to do upgrades this summer that otherwise would be impossible for us to do.” Mayor Martin added.
“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
- 5 million for road projects and $7 million for bridge projects.
- Ontario, there are a total of 352 kilometres of connecting links, with 70 bridges in 77 municipalities.
LEARN MORE
Connecting Links Program
Dave Smith Action Centre
705-742-3777
david.smith@pc.ola.org