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 the Windsor Street intersection, with 92,000 to 110,000 vehicles per day through the project area. 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 spring 2024. Following the report, it is anticipated that the design-build team would begin as soon as possible, working to complete the detailed design and allowing construction to begin in 2025.

Current progress

The project team is working on a final functional design to recommend to Regional Council by spring 2024, 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?

Thank you to all who have contributed and provided feedback to inform the functional design of this project. Public participation has closed. Future updates about this project will be shared on our halifax.ca project page and are anticipated pending Regional Council's review of final functional design.

Public participation summary

  • Phase 1 - Conducted in spring 2021. The feedback heard during this engagement was used to develop two design concepts.
  • Phase 2 - Conducted October and November 2021. The project team shared concept design options and gathered feedback that will be used in making design decisions.


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 the Windsor Street intersection, with 92,000 to 110,000 vehicles per day through the project area. 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 spring 2024. Following the report, it is anticipated that the design-build team would begin as soon as possible, working to complete the detailed design and allowing construction to begin in 2025.

Current progress

The project team is working on a final functional design to recommend to Regional Council by spring 2024, 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?

Thank you to all who have contributed and provided feedback to inform the functional design of this project. Public participation has closed. Future updates about this project will be shared on our halifax.ca project page and are anticipated pending Regional Council's review of final functional design.

Public participation summary

  • Phase 1 - Conducted in spring 2021. The feedback heard during this engagement was used to develop two design concepts.
  • Phase 2 - Conducted October and November 2021. The project team shared concept design options and gathered feedback that will be used in making design decisions.


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Phase 2 of public engagement has closed, and we thank everyone for their feedback. This feedback will be used to make decisions on the preferred concept design. Phase 3 of public engagement will share the preferred design option and the process to review and develop a preliminary design. We are expecting to share these detail in 2022. Check back to this page for project updates!

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  • CLOSED: This survey has closed. Thank you for all your feedback! Please watch this page for project updates, and we expect to hold the next phase of public engagement in Spring 2022.

    Welcome to the online survey for the Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Project. This engagement phase will share concept design options for the project and gather feedback from the public and stakeholders. Along with other considerations such as efficiency, cost, and impacts to different transportation modes, feedback from the public will be used to help the project team determine the preferred option (Option A or Option B). The project team will then refine the preferred option and we expect to hold the next phase of public engagement in Spring of 2022 to gather feedback from stakeholders and the public on the preliminary design.

    The primary objective of this project is to improve the functionality of the Windsor Street Exchange, recognizing there are many demands on the intersection and surrounding area, including the movement of people and goods in cars, trucks, buses, and on bikes, on foot, and using mobility devices. Two concept design options have been developed for the project; please watch this video on the concept designs prior to completing this survey.

    The municipality is simultaneously working on a project to provide active transportation connections between the Africville National Historic Site and the rest of Peninsular Halifax. The primary objective of this project is to provide safe and comfortable access for people walking, biking, or using mobility devices to the National Historic Site. HRM will be considering this project throughout the evolution of the Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment. 

    The below image shows the study area for the Windsor Street Exchange project.

    An aerial photo of the study area which extends from Bedford Highway at the Fairview Overpass, up Windsor Street to Strawberry Hill Street, up Lady Hammond Road to Mackintosh Street, and includes Bayne and Mackintosh Streets.

     

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  • CLOSED: This survey is now closed. Please check back in Fall 2021 for our next phase of engagement.

    Welcome to the online survey for the Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Functional Plan. A functional plan is the first step in a street or intersection redesign and will result in conceptual drawings that guide the vision for the street. It will also recommend changes to how the street looks and functions, such as the allocation of space for vehicles and goods movement, transit, walking, rolling, biking, on the street, and how the different modes interact. After a functional plan is completed, the municipality works on more detailed plans, where a vision for the street is determined. 

    The primary objective of this project is to improve the functionality of the Windsor Street Exchange, recognizing there are many demands on the intersection and surrounding area, including the movement of people and goods in cars, trucks, buses, and on bikes, on foot, and using mobility devices. 

    The municipality is simultaneously working on a project to provide active transportation connections between the Africville National Historic Site and the rest of Peninsular Halifax. The primary objective of this project is to provide safe and comfortable access for people walking, biking, or using mobility devices to the Africville National Historic Site. The municipality will be considering this active transportation project throughout the evolution of the Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Functional Plan, and Phase 2 of public engagement will be integrated with the active transportation project to accept feedback on both projects, due to their geographic proximity. 

    At this stage in the project, the municipality is collecting feedback from the community on how individuals want to travel through the Windsor Street Exchange now and in the future.


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  • Please contact Megan Soroka directly at sorokam@halifax.ca if you are a business or property owner adjacent to the project area.

    To register to attend a virtual public meeting for adjacent property owners and businesses about the Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment Project and receive future updates on the project and its potential impact to your property and/or business, please complete the form below.

    The virtual meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 28th from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The meeting will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. with a presentation, to be followed by a question and answer period with municipal staff and the project consultants. You are also welcome to attend the virtual Open House, scheduled for Thursday, April 29th at 6:30 p.m.

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  • The survey is now closed. If you are a member of the Africville community and wish to provide input on potential community benefits, please contact Megan Soroka at sorokam@halifax.ca. We will be reporting back on what we've heard and may be looking for additional feedback from the community in the future. Thank you for sharing your voice with us!


    Thank you for taking part in the Africville Community Consultation. 

    Background 

    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, transit priority measures through the intersection, improve the movement of vehicles and goods through the area, and improve the safety for all road users.

    When approving the project, Regional Council directed staff to explore whether community benefits could be part of the final design of the Windsor Street Exchange and surrounding road network. Community benefits are a way to increase the social impact of a large scale municipal project. Benefits that could be included as part of infrastructure projects vary based on the project’s scope, impact, and opportunities identified through community consultation. 

    Due to the proximity of the project to the historic Africville community, consultations will be held with the Africville community to identify concerns and opportunities associated with this project.

    What is the goal of the survey? 

    As a result of previous engagement with members of the Africville community, the municipality understands that access to the Africville Museum and Park is important. The goal of the survey is to build on the feedback that has been collected and identify further opportunities for both the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project, and the Africville community. Some opportunities may be addressed through the Windsor Street Exchange redevelopment project, while others may require the involvement of other municipal departments or government partners. Feedback gathered during this community consultation process will be documented in a report to Regional Council, which will be made publicly available.        

    How can I provide feedback?  

    The survey is now closed. If you are a member of the Africville community and wish to provide input on potential community benefits, please contact Megan Soroka at sorokam@halifax.ca. We will be reporting back on what we've heard and may be looking for additional feedback from the community in the future. Thank you for sharing your voice with us!

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