On September 12, 2025, Regional Group, Novatech, Robert Excavating, and the City of Clarence-Rockland came together to mark a milestone more than a decade in the making: the completion of the siphon sewer and watermain beneath Clarence Creek. This critical piece of infrastructure will make the launch of the next phase of development possible at The Villages at Clarence Crossing.

From Acquisition to Vision

The story of Clarence Crossing began in 2012, when Regional Group acquired roughly 400 acres of land on the south shore of the Ottawa River. At the time, the land holdings—then referred to as the Bridgewater Lands—were naturally divided by Clarence Creek. Recognizing both the opportunity and the challenge, Regional Group partnered with Novatech to prepare a comprehensive master plan.

That plan, unanimously approved by Clarence-Rockland Council in 2014, was guided by five core principles: protecting natural features, maximizing river frontage, promoting active transportation, designing distinct urban villages, and creating a true live-work-play community.

Delivering on the First Phase

Phase 1 of Clarence Crossing launched in 2015 on the west side of Clarence Creek. It included more than 200 homes, a park, multi-use pathways, a school block, and lands reserved for a future pedestrian bridge servicing crossing. Nearly complete today, this first phase demonstrated the vision for a connected, sustainable community.

Yet unlocking the potential of the larger 350-acre parcel to the east required solving a major infrastructure challenge: extending municipal services across Clarence Creek.

The Engineering Challenge

To service the future Villages at Clarence Crossing, it was determined that both sanitary sewer and watermain connections needed to cross under the Clarence Creek. The solution was ambitious—requiring precision design, technical expertise, and significant investment.

The approved design called for:

• A deep sanitary gravity sewer,
• Two sanitary siphon sewers, 155  metres in length, with diameters of 400mm and 250mm, with interim pumping measures

• Two watermains, each 212 metres in length and 400mm in diameter.
• All infrastructure below Clarence Creek had to be directionally drilled 3.5 metres below the creek bed, for a distance of 150 metres.

The siphon design provides capacity of 130 litres per second, enough to service approximately 3,000 future homes. This crucial infrastructure unlocks the ability to proceed with full servicing of the Villages at Clarence Crossing community.

Construction and Completion

In late 2024, Regional Group retained Robert Excavating to begin construction of the $3.5 million siphon project. Over the following months, crews carefully advanced the work, much of it hidden below the creek floor. By the summer of 2025, the installation was nearing completion, positioning Regional Group to begin servicing and construction of the first phases of The Villages at Clarence Crossing.

Celebrating Collaboration

To commemorate the achievement, representatives from Regional Group (David, Josh, and Tobin Kardish, along with Evan Garfinkel), Robert Excavating (Robert Bordeau, Stephane Sauve, and Gary Besheim), Novatech (John Riddell and Sam Bahia), and the City of Clarence Rockland (Mayor Mario Zanth) gathered in September 2025 for a groundbreaking ceremony. The event highlighted not only the completion of a complex engineering project, but also the power of long-term vision, collaboration, and commitment to community building.

“Completing this infrastructure project represents a significant milestone that transforms a vision into reality. It is the product of extraordinary collaboration between all stakeholders,” said Evan Garfinkel, Senior Manager, Land Development. “This milestone sets the foundation for an exciting master-planned community where residents can live, work, and thrive.”

Looking Ahead

With this milestone complete, Regional Group and its partners are preparing to launch sales for the first phases of The Villages at Clarence Crossing in 2026. This next chapter will introduce a connected community designed around active, healthy living, with one-of-a-kind amenities that foster engagement and well-being.