Ajax Town Council Authorizes $7.2M Waterfront Trail Restoration and Shoreline Protection

AJAX, ON — Ajax Town Council approved a $7.2-million capital contract on Sunday morning to execute extensive shoreline stabilization and trail restoration along the Town of Ajax Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail between Carruthers Creek and Rotary Park.

Shoreline Armor and Trail Engineering

The project funds the placement of over 25,000 tonnes of heavy armor stone revetments and submerged offshore reefs designed to dissipate high-energy lake waves and arrest coastal bluff erosion. The multi-use paved waterfront trail will be realigned and elevated with permeable asphalt and native shoreline plantings to prevent future storm washouts.

The project includes two accessible viewing lookouts with solar-powered emergency call stations and educational interpretive signage documenting local marine and avian biodiversity.

Public Recreation and Environmental Protection

The Ajax waterfront represents a vital recreational amenity for Durham Region residents and visitors connecting to the broader Great Lakes Waterfront Trail network. Mayor Shaun Collier emphasized that investing in permanent coastal engineering protects municipal parklands and underground sanitary infrastructure from accelerating lake erosion.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) partnered on the engineering design, ensuring that coastal stabilization maintains natural nearshore fish habitats.

Construction Timelines

Heavy marine stone placement will begin in November 2026 during low-water conditions, with trail paving and parkland restoration concluding in summer 2027.