Community Update: Scotts Mills Dam at Lock 19 Construction Update

February 4, 2022, Peterborough, Ontario – Parks Canada advises that the Scotts Mills Dam will not be fully constructed by spring 2022 as previously communicated.

High water levels on the Trent-Severn Waterway this past summer and fall led to multiple work stoppages for safety and to accommodate the movement of water through the system. Although every effort was made by the contractor to accelerate work between and since the stoppages, schedule slippage was unavoidable. The updated schedule indicates construction of the new dam will be completed by early fall 2022, with demobilization to occur in late fall and landscaping in spring 2023. There will be no impacts to navigation during the 2022 season. Work hours will continue to be as previously communicated:

• Daily: 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. - activities generating non-heavy construction noise only


• Monday – Saturday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. – heavy noise generating activities


• Sunday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – heavy noise generating activities


• Daily: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. - activities generating non-heavy construction noise only

Work completed on this project so far includes construction of all new dam piers/abutments as well as 3 out of 7 spillways. Construction of an additional spillway and the connection of the dam and the lock is underway. The construction of the remaining spillways and completion of the overdecking railings and lighting has been delayed until summer 2022. Once complete, the contractor will remove the cofferdams and access bridges, demobilize from site, and complete site restoration and landscape activities.

The Scotts Mills Dam replacement project is part of the Government of Canada’s Federal Infrastructure Investment program. Parks Canada is leading this important infrastructure work to ensure safe, high-quality experiences for visitors by improving heritage, visitor, waterway, and highway assets located within national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas, including along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site.

More Information

For questions or concerns, or to receive email updates regarding this project, please contact us at trentsevern@pc.gc.ca and include “Scotts Mills Dam” in the subject heading. For news about this or other infrastructure projects in your area, please visit www.pc.gc.ca/tswInfrastructure.