The threat of tariffs from the Donald Trump administration clearly cast a pall over the proceedings during the recent Hamilton-Halton Construction Association 2025 Construction Forecast conference.
But HHCA members attending the Jan. 30 event were reminded there’s still billions of dollars’ worth of projects in the local pipeline to be delivered by regional public sector owners regardless of the tariff squabbles.
Representatives from Hamilton Water, the Halton Region capital projects division and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) outlined scores of near-term infrastructure projects to be tendered in 2025 and 2026 and offered glimpses into upcoming megaprojects.
Projects cited included the $2-billion Juravinski Hospital reconstruction and Hamilton’s Phase 2 Woodward wastewater treatment plant expansion and north secondary treatment plant rehabilitation, valued at $445 million.
HHCA general manager Sue Ramsay acknowledged the anxiety in the sector created by the Trump tariff aggressions but said, “construction is resilient.”
The role of a construction association is to respond to questions from members, put them in touch with the supports from national organizations such as the Canadian Construction Association and create its own programming to promote member education, said Ramsay.
Amidst trade uncertainty, she noted, HHCA members have other concerns such as preparing for upcoming reforms to the Construction Act.
“That’s a piece of legislation that’s going to really impact our industry,” said Ramsay.
Meanwhile, she said, there are ample opportunities for work in Halton and Hamilton with public projects coming “fast and furious.”
“Municipalities especially have a lot of work. Our province is growing, and to support that role, we have to be investing in new infrastructure and also reinvesting in our aging infrastructure.”
Upcoming public sector projects include the following:
- Woodward wastewater treatment plant. The delivery model is design-bid-build and there will be two sets of contracts. The design of primary clarifiers and scum building upgrades is in progress with a construction tender set to go out in Q2. The broader $445-million plant expansion and the north secondary treatment plant rehab is also in design and the construction tender is expected in Q4 2027.
“The phase two expansion project will address growth within the city, allowing us to grow with the city, enable us to treat that wastewater, and also, there’s a wet weather benefit,” stated presenter John Helka, director of the Woodward upgrades.
- Dundas wastewater treatment plant. The estimated construction cost is $225 million and the design schedule runs from 2025 to 2028, with construction beginning in 2029.
- Woodward water treatment plant. The estimated value of phase 2A, which includes a new UV/backwash process building, filter underdrains and a chlorine building, is $300 million. Design is 2025 to 2028 and construction is 2028 to 2032.
- Hamilton Water outstations. Millions will be spent between 2025 and 2028 on 21 water pumping stations, four well systems, seven water towers and 13 reservoirs.
- Juravinski Hospital reconstruction. This Infrastructure Ontario project in Hamilton has an estimated start date of 2027. Works besides demolitions include capacity for 417 newly constructed beds, adding up to 170 net new beds; four minor-procedures rooms in a new surgical centre; and hematology, genetics, pathology and morgue labs.
- New West Lincoln hospital. This $224-million design-build-finance project from the Ministry of Health is already under construction.
- Other HHS projects ranging from under one million to approximately $20 million will proceed at Hamilton General, McMaster University Medical Centre and St. Peter’s. A $21-million emergency department renovation at Hamilton General from the MOH is in the design stage.
- Halton Region housing-enabling infrastructure 2025-2031. Halton director of engineering and construction Marek Braczek noted with 100,000 homes targeted for construction by 2031, the region plans to spend $5.4 billion on transportation projects, water and wastewater treatment, waste management and other linear infrastructure.
“For contractors like you, there is plenty of work coming your way,” said Braczek, noting Halton is expected to double in population by 2051, adding 1.1 million in population. Projects include the Oakville Midtown sanitary trunk sewer along Trafalgar Road, $32 million, prequalification in Q1, tender in Q2; Lower Baseline wastewater project, budget of $230 million, three contracts, Bronte Road/Johnson Way, prequalifation this year with tender going out in 2026; Dundas Road widening from Kerns Road to Appleby Line, phases two and three valued at $127 million and $50 million respectively, with tenders in 2026; and Trafalgar Road widening, Dundas Street to Highway 407, $90 million, prequal in 2026.
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