Downtown Reimagined Construction Phase

The Town of Grimsby is providing an important update on the Downtown Reimagined Project, following recent discussions with members of the downtown business community.

Based on what we have heard from businesses, residents, and stakeholders – and with a shared focus on supporting a successful outcome for downtown commerce and the broader community – the Town has made a decision to adjust the project schedule.

A Phased Approach to Support Downtown Success

Rather than completing construction in a single year, the Downtown Reimagined Project will now take place over two carefully planned phases, beginning in 2026 and concluding in 2027. This revised approach is intended to better balance the technical requirements of the project with traffic management, business access, and day-to-day community needs.

• Phase 1 (2026): The Town will focus on completing the majority of underground infrastructure work outside of the downtown core. Streets include: Elm, Mountain/Christie, Main - West of Mountain and East of Elm, and Rossmore.
• Phase 2 (2027): Construction will then move into the downtown core area to complete the remaining underground and streetscape work (Main Street between Christie Street and Elm Street).

The primary benefit of this approach is improved traffic and access management. By organizing the work across two phases, the Town will be better positioned to maintain traffic flow, minimize disruption, and support continued access to businesses and residences throughout construction.

This revised phasing also allows for a more strategic rollout of the most sensitive work in the downtown core, with added flexibility to adapt to seasonal considerations, business operations, and ongoing feedback from stakeholders. Importantly, it provides opportunities to fine-tune the timing and sequencing of construction activities in response to concerns raised by the business community.

The Town will continue to walk through each phase in greater detail as planning progresses and welcomes continued feedback as part of this process.

Ongoing Engagement with the Business Community

Recently, the Town met with downtown businesses to share updates on the Downtown Reimagined Project, including the revised phasing and timeline. A full video presentation with voiceover is available on Let’s Talk Grimsby and can be viewed here. The presentation is intended to provide detailed information on the project and the rationale behind recent decisions.

As the Town prepares for construction beginning in 2026, the presentation outlines:

• The updated phasing and timing of the project
• How access to storefronts will be maintained throughout construction
• How and when information will be shared as details are finalized
• How business input will continue to inform final construction planning

Project Progress and Financial Commitments

With the support of the business community and project partners, the Downtown Reimagined Project has now reached the 60 per cent design milestone and remains on track to be issued for pricing early in the new year.

Staging plans have been developed to guide construction, including:

• Maintaining traffic and pedestrian flow and access to businesses
• Planning for potential nighttime work
• Clear signage, including vehicle detours, pedestrian wayfinding, and “Businesses Open” signage
• Overall construction sequencing

The Town has made significant financial commitments to the project, including a $9.1 million project budget, supported by a $1.9 million government grant for the watermain component. Additional funding has also been committed to advance further phases of the downtown parking study to implement key recommendations.

Collaboration remains central to the project’s success. The Town continues to work closely with the Downtown BIA, meeting multiple times each month through construction task forces, communications planning, and one-on-one discussions. As part of this partnership, the Town has retained Gestalt Communications to support a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy throughout construction.

A Long-Term Vision for Downtown Grimsby

Downtown Reimagined is a major infrastructure and streetscape revitalization initiative focused on renewing aging underground infrastructure while transforming the downtown core into a vibrant, pedestrian-priority destination. Guided by a new vision for Main Street East and West, the project aims to create a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment that supports local commerce, social connection, and Grimsby’s small-town character and heritage.

Together, the Town and community are working toward a downtown that supports long-term economic vitality and community growth.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to subscribe to the project page on www.letstalkgrimsby.ca/dr-construction to receive ongoing updates.

Beginning Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12, crews will be carrying out test pit and borehole work in the downtown core as part of the design phase of the Downtown Reimagined Project.

Work locations

• Test Pits: Main Street, between Christie Street and Robinson Street North
• Boreholes:
  • Main Street, between Christie Street and Patton Street
  • Elm Street, between Mountain Street and Gibson Street
  • Mountain Street, between Elm Street and Main Street

What to expect

• Temporary lane diversions and single-lane closures will be required.
• Crews will make every effort to maintain two lanes of traffic where possible, and at least one lane will remain open at all times.
• Work will be completed in stages:
  • September 8–10: Daylighting test pits
  • September 10–12: Geotechnical drilling. Work on Main Street West will pause September 11 to avoid disruption to the Farmers’ Market. Crews will focus on Elm Street that day.
• Holes will be filled in immediately following the work. No installations are being done at this time, and this is exploratory work is intended to inform the design phase of the Downtown Reimagined project.

Why this work is needed

• Test pits are small, temporary excavations that allow crews to look underground and confirm what is below the surface. In this case, the pits will help locate the old train tracks buried under Main Street. Identifying the exact location of the tracks ensures they are considered as part of the project’s design and scope of work.
• Boreholes are narrow, deep holes drilled into the ground to study soil and subsurface conditions. This work will provide important information needed to plan trenchless watermain crossings under the Forty Mile Creek. These crossings will use directional drilling with a launch and receiving pit on either side of the creek. Two crossings are planned: one on Elm Street and one on Main Street.

We thank the community for their patience as this important work is carried out.