For this project, we aim to provide weekly updates each Friday to keep residents informed about the upcoming week of construction. Please continue to check this section regularly to stay informed about all project progress and important updates.
*Weather plays a significant role in project timelines. Many construction activities require dry and stable conditions to be completed safely and correctly. When weather shifts, such as heavy rain, frost or high winds, crews may need to pause or postpone work to protect both safety and quality. As a result, project schedules are always weather-dependent and may change as conditions dictate.*
Project Update - Paving Operations (As of Dec. 17th, 2025)
The final day of paving required to wrap up Phase 1 for the year, on the Bay Street project, is scheduled for day work on Thursday, December 18th.
Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street while paving work is completed, throughout the day from 7:00 a.m. to completion. Night work will follow the day shift, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Slight delays should be expected periodically throughout the day. Traffic may be held in all directions when crews need to switch lanes to continue paving.
This week, crews have been working tirelessly on roadway grading and building up the road base. This work has been taking place overnight, since Sunday, to prepare the surface for paving. The base coat of paving will be completed this week, with a final top coat of paving to be scheduled for the spring when conditions allow. This will provide a smooth driving surface for the winter months and ensure the highest-quality finishing work when asphalt plants reopen.
The following construction season will see additional finishing work around the site for sidewalk, curb, and sewer lines. That will complete Phase 1 of the Bay St. Project. Phase 2 work consists of water, sewer, and road upgrades from the railway tracks to the Town border. This work is subject to Town Council consideration and approval as part of the 2026/27 Capital Budget.
The Town recognizes the challenges and impacts to residents, businesses and visitors during Phase 1 of this project. We will review the project to identify lessons learned and minimize impacts from future infrastructure projects.
Project Update & Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Dec. 12, 2025)
Project Update & Construction Schedule
Thursday, December 11th, Council held an Emergency Council Meeting in a town hall format to inform residents of ongoing implications and listen to resident concerns. Follow-up meetings in-camera were held with contractors and partners to address the issues raised. The full recording is available here.
Based upon the feedback gathered from the Emergency Council Meeting, beginning Sunday, crews will shift to night work for the full week, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., to help move the project toward substantial completion with as little disruption to residents and local businesses as possible.
Only one daytime shift is expected next week, on Thursday or Friday *weather permitting*, to complete paving.
The schedule above is for the week of Dec. 13th until Dec. 19th (All schedules are weather-dependent and may change as conditions require).
Project Update - Traffic Control Measures (as of Dec 10, 2025)
There is no single construction-related cause for this week’s significant delays. Slower driving speeds through the snowy, freshly gravelled work zone, combined with higher traffic volumes, have contributed to longer lineups. Additional delays occurred when efforts to clear end-of-day hospital traffic ran longer than planned due to slower movement through the site.
The Town has been meeting with the contractor to review and adjust traffic control measures, including a timed approach where no direction is held longer than 5 to 10 minutes without a sign flip.
While this will not clear the entire lineup, it will help ensure steady forward progress in all directions.
Project Update & Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Dec. 5, 2025)
Project Update
- Water, sewer, and storm work along the full length of the road up to the railway area will be completed by the end of this week.
- Jack-and-bore work is underway beneath the railway tracks to install new water and sewer lines.
- Sidewalk and curb have been removed to prepare for raising, rebuilding, and paving the road.
Major work for Phase 1 is scheduled to be substantially complete by December 31st, weather permitting. Contractors are making every effort to finish before Christmas if conditions allow. (Schedule is weather-dependent and may change as conditions dictate).
For answers to frequently asked questions on Capital Projects, click here.
Weekly Construction Schedule
The schedule for the week of Dec. 6th until Dec. 12th is as follows (All schedules are weather-dependent and may change as conditions require):
- Crews will be working during the daytime Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Night shifts will take place Sunday through Friday, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street.
Crews remain on site throughout the day and night, with multiple teams working in different areas. Contractors are maximizing daytime and nighttime hours to maintain momentum and minimize delays.
Construction Schedule Update (as of Dec. 2, 2025)
- Crews will continue to work day shifts Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. but;
- Crews will also be working night shifts on Wednesday (Dec 3rd) & Thursday (Dec. 4th) from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Nov. 28, 2025)
The schedule for the week of Nov. 29th until Dec. 5th is as follows:
- Crews will be working day shifts Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street.
Crews remain on site throughout the day with multiple teams working in different areas of the project. Even with no night work planned, contractors are maximizing daytime hours to keep the project moving efficiently.
Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Nov. 21, 2025)
The schedule for the week of Nov. 22nd until Nov. 28th is as follows:
- Crews will be working day shifts Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street.
Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Nov. 14, 2025)
The schedule for the week of Nov.15th until Nov. 21st is as follows:
- Crews will be working day shifts Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Night shifts will take place Monday to Thursday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street.
Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Nov. 7, 2025)
The schedule for the week of Nov. 7th until Nov. 14th is as follows:
- Crews will be working day shifts Monday, and Wednesday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- There will be no daytime work on Tuesday in observance of Remembrance Day.
- Night shifts will take place Monday to Friday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street.
Construction Schedule Update (as of Nov. 4, 2025)
In addition to the schedule released on October 31st, teams will work from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5th, and Thursday, Nov. 6th.
Weekly Construction Schedule (as of Oct. 31, 2025)
The schedule for the week of Nov. 3rd until Nov. 9th is as follows:
- Work on Bay Street is ongoing Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Traffic control will be in place on Bay Street, Main Street, and St. Andrews Street.
Project Overview
The Town of Antigonish is working to improve their municipal corridor between Haley Road and Marian Drive. Generally, these improvements include a full sanitary main and watermain replacement within a new utility corridor, street recapitalization, and an upgraded active transportation network.
The existing municipal services in the corridor require significant upgrades, as some sections are over 100 years old. Not only is the existing system aging and in need of repair, but it also requires an increase in capacity to better serve the surrounding community and accommodate future development.
As part of the work for this project, there is an opportunity to recapitalize the existing street infrastructure, including upgrades to road geometry, improved pedestrian and active transportation facilities, and the consolidation of utility infrastructure into designated utility corridors. Additionally, the project will enhance the existing layout of the rail crossing, including geometric upgrades and the integration of pedestrian facilities at the crossing.
The Bay Street Project has since been split into two phases:
Phase 1
The tender for Phase 1 of the Bay Street Project has been awarded to Dexter Construction for $2,182,315.00 + HST. This phase includes upgrades to water and sewer lines, new sidewalks, and an Active Transportation Trail from East Main Street up to the railway tracks. Work is scheduled to be completed by December 31.
Construction is planned to begin from Haley Road to the Railway tracks, including the installation of pipes, asphalt, curbs, sidewalks, an Active Transportation trail, and a jack-and-bore operation under the rail line. Additionally, the communication utilities infrastructure will be relocated to a new pole line.
Phase 2
In Spring of 2026, on the 2026/27 fiscal year's budget, phase two will enact the remaining section of the tender from the Railway to the Town boundary. This phase will include the installation and improvement of pipes, curbs, asphalt, sidewalks and crosswalks.
Project Goal
This project is taking advantage of the planned full street recapitalization as an opportunity to upgrade the road geometry and create safer active transportation facilities and connections.
This project intends to connect to the existing Marian Drive multi-use pathway (installed last year).
This Project Includes:
Upgraded Utilities:
- Installation of approximately 520m of new 300mm sanitary main
- Installation of approximately 550m of new 200mm watermain
- Installation of approximately 170m of new storm sewer
- Reconnection of existing services
- Relocation of utility poles
Full Street Recapitalization:
- Upgrades to existing road geometry
- 1200m of new curb
- 810m2 of new sidewalk
- 1450m2 of new active transportation facility
At Grade Rail Crossing Improvements:
- Improved geometry
- Designated pedestrian crossing infrastructure
Accessibility
Tactile Warning Surface Indicators (TWSI)
These are a system of textured ground surface indicators to assist people who are visually impaired effectively navigate the environment and indicate where they are entering a vehicle conflict area.
None of the existing pedestrian ramps along Bay Street within the study area include TWSIs.
Utility Poles
Several of the utility poles along the Bay Street corridor are located within the sidewalk, which is not convenient for pedestrians and particularly persons with disabilities.
Utility poles should be located off the roadway and sidewalk, and are proposed to be relocated to the grass boulevard between the roadway and the multi-use pathway for this project.
Bay Street - Project Corridor (1)
Bay Street - Project Corridor (2)
Key Improvements:
- Replacement of over 100-year-old water pipes.
- Reconstruction of a failed sewer main near Tim Hortons.
- Realigned street layout for better traffic flow and safer sightlines.
- New accessible sidewalks and a multi-use Active Transporation trail connecting East Main, Adam Street, and the Hospital.
- Road raising near the river to reduce flood risk.
- Relocation of utility poles outside of walkways.
- Improved connections from the north and east to Downtown and the Landing trail.
Key Features
Funding Partners
The Town has secured a total of $3.476 million in approved funding from Federal and Provincial partners, with additional funding applications pending. Partners and programs include:
| Funding Source | Amount | Purpose |
| ICIP – East Main to Adam | $466,199 | AT trail, curbs, railway crossing |
| ICIP – Bay Street | $1,808,400 | Water, sewer, and storm infrastructure |
| GRID Infrastructure Funding | $1,116,700 | Road realignment, raising, poles |
Pending Approval:
| AT Fund | $547,000 | AT trail on Bay Street |
Construction Process
Step 1: Underground Infrastructure
- Replace aging water mains, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems.
- Move pipes out of the roadway into a dedicated utility corridor on the bank of the hill.
Step 2: Roadway Re-alignment, Elevation, and Paving
- Rebuild Bay Street with a better layout and slightly raise the roadway near the river for flood mitigation.
Step 3: Utility Pole Relocation
- Move poles out of the sidewalk to improve accessibility and safety.
Step 4: Sidewalk and Trail Construction
- Build new, accessible sidewalks.
- Construct the active transportation trail connecting Adam Street, the hospital, and East Main.
Step 5: Final Landscaping
Finish the surface work, curbs, and greenspace beautification.
Map of Project Area
Concept Renderings
FAQ – Traffic Restrictions and Control Measures
Will Bay Street be closed during construction?
Yes, sections of Bay Street will be temporarily closed in phases. Access to the hospital will be maintained at all times. Given Bay Street’s key role as a connector from Highway 337, traffic management plans are a critical part of the project.
How will traffic be redirected?
Traffic control measures will be in place to guide motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians around work zones. Emergency services and transit providers will been consulted to ensure uninterrupted service. Emergency vehicle flow will be prioritized through the worksite.
How will businesses and residents be notified?
Advance notices will be shared on the Town’s website, social media, and XFM radio announcements. Businesses will also be contacted directly to minimize operational impacts.
How will the public stay informed?
Public updates will be provided before each phase begins. The Town is committed to clear and proactive communication throughout the entire project.
