Downtown Reimagined Project Update – July 10, 2026

Big week for the Downtown Reimagined project. Directional drilling beneath the Forty Mile Creek was completed successfully as of Wednesday morning, marking one of the most technically complex milestones of Phase 1. Crews have already transitioned to open cut watermain installation on Elm Street between the creek and Gibson Street.

The contractor's site compound at Main Street East and Elm Street is taking shape, with trailers being set up and power being connected to the site. Next week, crews will continue watermain installation on Elm Street between Gibson Street and Mountain Street, while monitoring well decommissioning begins on Main Street.

You will also begin seeing project and "Open for Business" signage throughout the work zones.

The Construction Passport launches on July 13. We encourage residents and visitors to explore local businesses. Also, the Construction StoryWalk runs through August 28, offering families another opportunity to enjoy downtown throughout the summer.

Full details below.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Construction:

Now Underway: Open cut watermain work becomes visible on Elm Street between Gibson and Mountain, and the contractor's site compound is set up at Main Street East and Elm.
Week of July 13: Watermain installation continues between Gibson Street and Mountain Street, followed by service installations in that section by the same crew.
Monitoring wells are decommissioned, with a tentative half-day single-lane closure on Main Street near Patton (Tuesday). No additional traffic impact expected at the Elm Street location.

Events:

July 13: The Construction Passport launches, running through September 30.
Now until August 28: The Construction StoryWalk continues along the downtown route.

A LOOK BACK

Staging & Construction Update – Week of July 6

Here's what's been underway this week:

As of Wednesday morning, Alfred Beam Construction's subcontractor, NPL, mobilized on site and completed directional drilling beneath the Forty Mile Creek, with the new watermain pipe now installed beneath the creek bed.
With trenchless installation complete, a separate construction crew has mobilized to begin open cut watermain installation on Elm Street, working from the creek west toward Gibson Street.
The watermain alignment in this section has shifted closer to centerline due to existing utility locations, meaning only one lane of traffic is being maintained through the work zone.
Project and “Open for Business” signage is now up around the work zone.
The contractor is setting up trailers and running power to the site compound taking shape at Main Street East and Elm.
Construction signage and traffic control remains in place in and around the work zone.

Construction StoryWalk

The Construction StoryWalk is in full swing and runs through August 28. Led by the Downtown Grimsby BIA, in partnership with the Town of Grimsby and the Grimsby Chamber of Commerce, the Construction StoryWalk is a free, self-guided route through participating downtown businesses.

Follow along the pages of Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld, an internationally bestselling children's book about a hardworking crew of construction vehicles tackling a big job together.

Downtown is open all summer long and worth visiting even with the Downtown Reimagined construction underway.

StoryWalk route – visit businesses in order:

Mrs Greenway, 31 Main St W
Farm Gate to Your Plate, 35 Main St W
Village Studio, 63 Main St W
Grimsby Music, 76 Main St W
Marsers & Associates, 76 Main St W
The Dutch Shop, 52 Main St W
Teddy's Sports Bar, 30 Main St W
Jordan's Flowers, 16 Main St W
The Forty, 10 Main St W
Nurish Kitchen, 7 Main St E
The Brick Shack, 15 Main St E
The Dog Spot, 43 Main St E
Activate Dance & Circus School, 36 Main St E Unit 4
Grimsby Benevolent Fund (GBF), 40 Elm St
Charlie's Barber Shop, 23 Main St W

Read the full press release here and visit the Downtown Grimsby website here or follow @downtownreimagined on Facebook and Instagram for more information.

Pre-Construction Surveys Concluded

dBA Services Inc., the third-party consultant retained by the contractor on behalf of the Town, is completing the final pre-construction surveys for properties within the project area. Representatives have now contacted all eligible property owners within the construction limits, and no additional surveys will be scheduled after this final round.

A LOOK AHEAD

Week of July 13 – Open Cut Watermain, Site Compound

The week of July 13 is when construction becomes most visible on Elm Street. With open cut watermain work currently underway between Gibson Street and Mountain Street, and the contractor's staging area established at the corner of Main Street East and Elm Street, this gives the project team a home on-site for the duration of the work ahead of next week.

Monitoring wells along the project route will be decommissioned next week. The Elm Street location won't add any further traffic impact, but the Main Street location near Patton will require a single lane closure for approximately half a day, tentatively scheduled for Tuesday. We'll share the exact timing as it's confirmed.

Construction Process:

A trench is excavated within the roadway running parallel to the road. The trench will allow the new PVC watermain pipe to be installed.
Separate trenches will be excavated perpendicular to the watermain, which will allow new water service pipes to be installed, to each property.
The new watermain will be connected to the new pipe installed under the Forty Mile Creek.
The watermain will be backfilled and compacted in layers as pipe is installed, then tested before the new watermain is connected to the active system. The testing comes later in the process.

What to Expect:

Mechanical compaction equipment may cause small, noticeable vibrations through the ground.
Trenches are initially restored with stone; full asphalt paving follows once all watermain and services are installed.

Traffic:

Construction will take place during daytime hours.
Elm Street will remain open to alternating two-way traffic with traffic control persons in place.
Main Street West will be open to two-way traffic with lane adjustments in place.
Moving equipment may cause intermittent disruptions to traffic flow.
No detour routes are required during these stages.

Click here for the full plan

Construction Passport – launching July 13

The Downtown Grimsby BIA, in partnership with the Town and the Grimsby Chamber of Commerce, will launch Construction Passport on July 13 – a loyalty program running through September 30 that rewards customers for shopping locally during construction.

Here’s how it works:

Pick up a passport at any participating business.
Collect one stamp per visit with a qualifying purchase of $20 or more (before tax).
Fill 8 stamps from 8 different businesses for a chance to win.
Prizes: one $1,000 grand prize, three $200 prizes, and four $25 prizes, all in gift cards to participating downtown businesses.
There is no limit on entries.
More than 30 businesses are participating.

For full details and terms, visit the Downtown Grimsby website here or follow @downtownreimagined on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

Niagara-on-the-Lake Local | July 9, 2026
“Downtown Grimsby's Construction Passport to reward shopping local during roadwork”

The article covers the launch of the Construction Passport on July 13, a community initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to continue supporting local businesses while the Downtown Reimagined construction project is underway.

Read the full article here.

NEXT STEPS

We recognize that a project of this scale brings temporary changes to daily routines, and we remain committed to providing clear, timely communication throughout construction.

Our goal is to make this process as predictable and manageable as possible while delivering long-term improvements that will benefit residents, businesses, and visitors for generations to come.

Thank you for your continued patience, partnership, and support as we work together to reimagine downtown Grimsby.

STAY CONNECTED

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Questions?

Email DTreimagined@grimsby.ca