The Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Project

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A photo of traffic traveling through the Windsor Street Exchange

Project overview

The Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project involves the redesign of the intersection of Bedford Highway, Windsor Street and Lady Hammond Road. As one of five roadway access points to the Halifax Peninsula and the downtown core, approximately 48,000 vehicles per day travel through this area, and the Windsor Street Exchange is currently operating above its available capacity during peak travel periods. The goals of the project are to add active transportation connections and transit priority measures through the intersection, improve the movement of vehicles and goods through the area, and improve the safety for all road users.


Background

The Halifax Regional Municipality, in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Port of Halifax, submitted a proposal to redevelop the Windsor Street Exchange to the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF). Transport Canada evaluated projects on specific trade-related criteria, as well as the extent to which a project would add capacity or address bottlenecks near major ports, airports, or along road and rail corridors in Canada that contribute to generating or increasing overseas trade.

A concept for the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment was submitted to Transport Canada in May 2019. The concept confirmed that a reconfiguration of the transportation network could meet the goals of the NTCF program, and on June 2, 2019, the Minister for Transport announced that the Windsor Street Exchange project, along with a complementary project by the Port of Halifax, had been approved.

On August 13, 2019, when authorizing the contribution agreement with Transport Canada, Regional Council directed staff to explore whether community benefits could be part of the selection of a preferred concept.


Project status

Two design options had been developed for the project based on an assessment of the existing conditions, expected future transportation and land uses in the area, feedback from public and stakeholder engagement, and overall project objectives. Phase 1 of public engagement was held in April/May 2021 (report available here) and Phase 2 was held in October/November 2021 (report available here).

This is a very challenging and unique project – there are several important objectives that the project intends to achieve and significant physical and operational constraints that influence how these objectives can be met. The project team determined that a value engineering study that would evaluate the design options and assess potential design alternatives should be completed before selected a final functional design. This study was conducted in early 2023 and the recommendations resulting from the study are now being further assessed and evaluated.

The project team is working on developing a final recommended design option to present to Regional Council by the end of 2023, with a final design ready in 2024. Construction is expected to take two to three years, and is expected to begin in 2025. Further status updates will be provided throughout the design process.


Next steps

The project team is working on a final functional design to recommend to Regional Council by the end of 2023, which will incorporate previously gathered feedback, recommendations from the Value Engineering Study, and further assessment and evaluation of alternate design options. Details of the recommended functional design will be shared on this page and in the report to Regional Council. Future public engagement will present preliminary design drawings, as well as share details on the remaining project schedule and expected construction timelines.

The project team has been exploring the potential of including community benefits as part of the project. Due to the proximity of the project to the historic Africville community, community meetings will be held with the Africville community to identify concerns and opportunities associated with the project. The Mi'kmaq are the founding people of Nova Scotia, and meetings will be held with the Mi’kmaq and Urban Indigenous communities to identify opportunities with the project.


How can I participate in the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project?

Phase 1 of public engagement was conducted in spring 2021. You can watch the recorded virtual Open House and read the ‘What We Heard’ Report. The feedback heard during this engagement was used to develop two design concepts.

Phase 2 of public engagement was held in October and November 2021. The project team shared concept design options, and gathered feedback that will be used in making design decisions. You can watch a video sharing the project background and concept design options, watch a recording of the virtual open house, or read the ‘What We Heard’ Report.

Future opportunities will present preliminary design drawings, detailed design considerations as well as share details on the remaining project schedule and expected construction timelines.

Project overview

The Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project involves the redesign of the intersection of Bedford Highway, Windsor Street and Lady Hammond Road. As one of five roadway access points to the Halifax Peninsula and the downtown core, approximately 48,000 vehicles per day travel through this area, and the Windsor Street Exchange is currently operating above its available capacity during peak travel periods. The goals of the project are to add active transportation connections and transit priority measures through the intersection, improve the movement of vehicles and goods through the area, and improve the safety for all road users.


Background

The Halifax Regional Municipality, in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Port of Halifax, submitted a proposal to redevelop the Windsor Street Exchange to the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF). Transport Canada evaluated projects on specific trade-related criteria, as well as the extent to which a project would add capacity or address bottlenecks near major ports, airports, or along road and rail corridors in Canada that contribute to generating or increasing overseas trade.

A concept for the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment was submitted to Transport Canada in May 2019. The concept confirmed that a reconfiguration of the transportation network could meet the goals of the NTCF program, and on June 2, 2019, the Minister for Transport announced that the Windsor Street Exchange project, along with a complementary project by the Port of Halifax, had been approved.

On August 13, 2019, when authorizing the contribution agreement with Transport Canada, Regional Council directed staff to explore whether community benefits could be part of the selection of a preferred concept.


Project status

Two design options had been developed for the project based on an assessment of the existing conditions, expected future transportation and land uses in the area, feedback from public and stakeholder engagement, and overall project objectives. Phase 1 of public engagement was held in April/May 2021 (report available here) and Phase 2 was held in October/November 2021 (report available here).

This is a very challenging and unique project – there are several important objectives that the project intends to achieve and significant physical and operational constraints that influence how these objectives can be met. The project team determined that a value engineering study that would evaluate the design options and assess potential design alternatives should be completed before selected a final functional design. This study was conducted in early 2023 and the recommendations resulting from the study are now being further assessed and evaluated.

The project team is working on developing a final recommended design option to present to Regional Council by the end of 2023, with a final design ready in 2024. Construction is expected to take two to three years, and is expected to begin in 2025. Further status updates will be provided throughout the design process.


Next steps

The project team is working on a final functional design to recommend to Regional Council by the end of 2023, which will incorporate previously gathered feedback, recommendations from the Value Engineering Study, and further assessment and evaluation of alternate design options. Details of the recommended functional design will be shared on this page and in the report to Regional Council. Future public engagement will present preliminary design drawings, as well as share details on the remaining project schedule and expected construction timelines.

The project team has been exploring the potential of including community benefits as part of the project. Due to the proximity of the project to the historic Africville community, community meetings will be held with the Africville community to identify concerns and opportunities associated with the project. The Mi'kmaq are the founding people of Nova Scotia, and meetings will be held with the Mi’kmaq and Urban Indigenous communities to identify opportunities with the project.


How can I participate in the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project?

Phase 1 of public engagement was conducted in spring 2021. You can watch the recorded virtual Open House and read the ‘What We Heard’ Report. The feedback heard during this engagement was used to develop two design concepts.

Phase 2 of public engagement was held in October and November 2021. The project team shared concept design options, and gathered feedback that will be used in making design decisions. You can watch a video sharing the project background and concept design options, watch a recording of the virtual open house, or read the ‘What We Heard’ Report.

Future opportunities will present preliminary design drawings, detailed design considerations as well as share details on the remaining project schedule and expected construction timelines.

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  • Questions and Answers

    over 3 years ago
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    CLOSED: This forum is closed, please check back in Spring 2022 for our next phase of engagement.

    Please ask your questions and we will post answers on a regular basis.

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