Last updated: July 11, 2025
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.
The Windsor Street Exchange project is being delivered using a progressive design-build approach, which brings design and construction together under one team. This method allows the project to move faster and more efficiently by aligning design decisions with construction sequencing and timelines. In late 2024, the municipality awarded a contract to a design-build team led by Dexter Construction Limited.
Windsor Street Exchange Redevelopment project area
Project updates and communications
Traffic impacts and other related Public Service Announcements (PSAs) will be shared with media, posted on the main project page, halifax.ca/news and on the main municipal social media accounts.
Quarterly project updates will be posted on the Quarterly project updates - Windsor Street Exchange project webpage.
The contractor will provide written notification of upcoming construction impacts before work begins to residents and businesses directly adjacent to the project area.
What to expect during construction
The Windsor Street Exchange project is a complex project that will transform this critical gateway to the Halifax Peninsula, improving access for all users. A construction management plan will be in place throughout this multi-phase project to reduce impacts on residents, businesses, and people driving, walking, cycling or rolling.
Access to nearby businesses and properties will be maintained during this project. The contractor will provide advance notice if access will be interrupted.
The project will involve:
- construction of an overpass to create a new connection between Bayne Street and Lady Hammond Road;
- underground utility work;
- replacement of sidewalk;
- installation of new multi-use paths;
- realignment of roadways;
- changes to intersection configurations; and
- installation of new signalized intersections.
| Milestone | Timing |
|---|---|
| Milestone | Timing |
| Early design validation and detailed design begins | Winter 2024 – summer 2025 |
| Future dedicated transit options workshop | Spring 2025 |
| Initial construction section planning | Summer 2025 |
| Return to Council on future dedicated transit options workshop findings | Summer 2025 |
| Initial construction activities begin | Fall 2025 |
| Substantial construction completion | Summer 2028 (est.) |
| Full project completion | Late 2028 (est.) |
Background
- A brief history of this project
Two design options were 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 key partner 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 with 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 to evaluate the design options and assess potential design alternatives should be completed before selecting a final functional design. This study was conducted in early 2023 and the recommendations resulting from the study were incorporated into the updated design where appropriate.
The project team presented a final functional design to Regional Council in June 2024, which incorporated previously gathered feedback, recommendations from the value engineering study, and further assessment and evaluation of alternate design options.
Regional Council approved the advancement of the functional design, requesting that the design-build phase of the project consider upgraded active transportation facilities, inclusion of dedicated transit lanes, and assessment of potential future impacts due to other nearby projects and increased travel demand.
- National Trade Corridors Fund application
The 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.
- Budget and funding sources
The approved total budget for this project is $104 million. Transport Canada is contributing $23.5 million via the National Trade Corridor Fund, the Province of Nova Scotia is contributing $10.75 million, and the Port of Halifax is contributing $2 million. The remainder of the project budget will be funded by Halifax Regional Municipality and Halifax Water through their respective capital budgets.
The project budget is expected to evolve as the design is developed by the design-build team, with the overall budget being finalized prior to the construction contract being awarded.
- Past public participation
Phase 1 - Conducted in spring 2021. The feedback heard during this engagement was used to develop two design concepts.
- Watch the recorded virtual Open House.
- Read the ‘What We Heard’ Report.
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.
- Watch a video sharing the project background and concept design options.
- Watch the recorded virtual open house.
- Read the ’What We Heard’ Report.
Community Benefits
- 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.
- Due to the proximity of the project to the historic Africville community, the project team have met with the Africville community to identify concerns and opportunities associated with the project and will continue to work with the community through the Africville Visioning Process.
- 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.
Questions?
Call 311 or email contactus@311.halifax.ca.