Downtown Reimagined Infrastructure Project Advances

The Town is advancing the multi-phase "Downtown Reimagined" infrastructure project. Upcoming water main and sewer work will cause daytime lane restrictions, overnight intersection closures and a roughly four-week closure of Mountain Street between Main and Elm streets. Officials also discussed detours, parking and business access, nighttime noise, a possible 24-hour paving operation and a target of completing major construction by late 2026.

Topics Discussed

ROAD CLOSURES AND DETOURS

Water main work on Main Street West, between 40 Mile Creek and Patton Street, is expected to begin on a Monday and reduce the road to one lane during the day, with flaggers directing traffic. Project lead Martin Reed warned that the work "is going to back up traffic down Main Street" and could affect Christie Mountain, although a full closure is not planned.

Mountain Street, between Main and Elm streets, is expected to close fully for about four weeks. The closure is required for water main and sanitary sewer work. Reed explained that the project will include "abandoning one sanitary main because there's currently two sanitary mains running down the street" and transferring services to the remaining main.

Through traffic will be detoured via Elm and Main streets. The intersection of Christie, Mountain and Main streets will later close overnight for five days, reopening each morning. Detours will use Elm Street, Ontario Street and Bells to Clark Street.

The Elm Street and Mountain Street intersection will also undergo four to five overnight closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Passenger vehicles will be directed to Park Road or Wolverton Road. Heavy trucks will be diverted regionally via the Red Hill Valley Parkway in Stoney Creek or Victoria Avenue in Vineland.

PARKING, BUSINESS AND PROPERTY ACCESS

The Mountain Street entrance to the Food Basics parking lot and the entrance to the Balsam Lane municipal parking lot will be closed during trenching. Food Basics will remain accessible from Main and Elm streets, while Balsam Lane can be reached from Elm Street.

Project staff will meet individually with affected property owners to coordinate access. Sidewalks are expected to remain open during main-line installation, but individual service connections will require additional excavations across sidewalks. Posted signs will communicate daily pedestrian changes.

Final connections will require a second round of excavations at individual properties after the new water mains are pressure-tested, chlorinated and approved for use.

PAVING, NOISE AND RESTORATION

The contractor has proposed two crews working around the clock to pave sections of Main and Elm streets. The proposal could begin as early as Sunday night or the following week and remains under internal review because of concerns about overnight noise.

Residents have reported dust, rocks and damaged vehicle rims on Main Street. Project representatives said Elm Street paving is expected to take place during the day, while nighttime paving would focus mainly on Main Street and commercial areas.

Crews have also changed operations at the Lions Pool parking lot. Excavated material will be dumped there overnight and removed during the day rather than being consolidated and moved throughout the night.

Martin Reed said the contractor's schedule is "targeting the beginning of December," while staff are trying "to push this schedule so all the installation is done by the end of November." He said final restoration, particularly sod, could continue into winter or be deferred until early 2027 because of sod availability.

ROSSMORE AVENUE AND ELM STREET WORK

The Town plans to use directional drilling for water main installation on Rossmore Avenue rather than open-trench excavation. Reed said the method will reduce restoration work on the narrow street and help advance the project schedule.

On Elm Street, crews are completing cross-trench restoration and rebuilding sidewalk sections. Earlier work encountered underground rock formations, utility conflicts and an intact concrete-and-timber trolley line beneath Main Street.

PROJECT TIMELINE

Major utility and infrastructure installation is targeted for completion by the end of November or early December 2026. Landscaping and sod restoration could continue into December 2026 or be deferred until early 2027, depending on sod availability.

Residents can follow updates through the Town's project website and the social media account @downtownreimagined, or contact dtreimagined@grimsby.ca.

Motions

• No formal motions, approvals, rejected motions or deferred motions were identified.
• No municipal file numbers, bylaw references, agenda item codes or resolution numbers were cited.

Attendees

• Martin Reed, project lead
• Other project and Town staff were referenced but not named.
• No councillors were identified as present in the provided meeting information.