TORONTO, July 27, 2026 – A busy section of road in York Region is undergoing concentrated overnight resurfacing this week, and this project includes an unusual detail: trace amounts of asbestos have been detected in the existing asphalt.
York Region is resurfacing Bathurst Street between Mulock Drive and Davis Drive. From July 27 to 31, paving work will take place each night from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Road line painting is scheduled from 10 p.m. on August 1 to 1 a.m. the following morning. The work area is located near the boundary of Newmarket and King.
According to information released by York Region, the existing asphalt on this section of Bathurst Street contains trace amounts of asbestos. Asbestos was used in some asphalt mixes in the 1970s and 1980s, which means older roads may still contain related materials when they are resurfaced.
Asbestos was once widely used in building and industrial materials. The main health risk is linked to asbestos fibres becoming airborne and being inhaled over a long period or in large quantities. For that reason, controlling dust is an important safety step when older materials are cut, broken up or removed.
However, York Region emphasizes that the risk of asbestos exposure to the public from this road work is low. The contractor will still take additional precautions while removing the old asphalt. In other words, the discovery of trace asbestos does not mean nearby roads or communities are in a dangerous condition, and driving through the area normally should not be treated as the same as asbestos exposure.
The work is being carried out overnight mainly to reduce impacts on daytime traffic and businesses along the corridor. York Region says that by extending overnight construction hours, paving work that could otherwise take about two weeks can be completed over five nights, while all four lanes can remain open during the day. Police will assist with traffic control during construction, and access to homes and businesses will remain open.
Residents living nearby may still experience overnight construction noise, especially on Wednesday and Thursday nights, when some work may be louder.
The project is not limited to resurfacing the road. Intersections at Bathurst Street and Keith Avenue, as well as Bathurst Street and Sykes Road, will be upgraded, including traffic signal improvements and accessibility upgrades. Some culverts along the corridor will also be repaired or replaced, and new guardrails will be installed to improve road safety and drainage. The overall project is expected to continue until August.
For nearby residents, the main points to watch are traffic and noise impacts during the overnight work from July 27 to 31, while also avoiding unnecessary panic over the word “asbestos.” Officials currently assess the public exposure risk as low and have required the contractor to take precautions when removing old asphalt that contains trace asbestos.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
