Project details - Windsor Street Exchange project

Quarterly project updates Common questions

Last updated: March 31, 2026

Project overview

The Windsor Street Exchange (WSE) project is a major transportation and trade infrastructure project focused on improving safety, mobility and regional connectivity at one of Halifax’s busiest transportation hubs. The project area includes the intersection of Bedford Highway, Windsor Street and Lady Hammond Road, as well as Highway 111 connections to the MacKay Bridge and Barrington Street, Bedford Highway and Joseph Howe Drive. Approximately 48,000 vehicles per day travel through the Windsor Street intersection, with 92,000 to 110,000 vehicles per day moving through the broader project area, making it one of the primary access points to the Halifax Peninsula, and an important connection point to downtown Halifax, Clayton Park, Fairview, Bedford and Dartmouth.

The project includes major roadway changes, transit priority measures, new infrastructure for people walking, rolling and cycling, and coordinated upgrades to water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure delivered in partnership with Halifax Water. Traffic modelling indicates the project will significantly improve how traffic moves through the area, reducing congestion and making travel times more reliable. Transit services are also expected to see improved reliability, particularly for inbound routes on the Bedford Highway, as well as the future Bus Rapid Transit Green Line.

The project design prioritizes the most heavily travelled movements through the Windsor Street Exchange to improve overall efficiency. This includes prioritizing travel between the Bedford Highway and the MacKay Bridge to support inbound transit, port‑related goods movement and the highest volume of daily vehicle traffic, while also improving safety for people walking, rolling and cycling.

The Windsor Street Exchange project is being delivered through a progressive design‑build approach, which allows design and construction planning to advance together. This approach improves cost certainty, helps manage risk and allows site conditions to be addressed earlier in the process. In late 2024, the municipality awarded a contract to a design‑build team led by Dexter Construction Limited. Detailed design has been underway since then, with early construction beginning in October 2025 to maintain the project schedule and meet requirements tied to federal funding. Phase 2, including construction of the current Windsor Street Exchange design, is expected to begin in April 2026 and be substantially completed by the end of 2029.

The estimated total project cost is $180 million, funded through contributions from the Halifax Regional Municipality, Halifax Water, Transport Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Port of Halifax. A cost‑benefit analysis confirms the project delivers net positive benefits to the community.

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.

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. Public engagement on existing conditions and project objectives was held in April/May 2021 (report available here) and further engagement on the design options 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.

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 budget for this project is approximately $180 million, per the 2026/27 Capital Plan and March 31, 2026 report to Regional Council.

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.

Past public participation

Existing conditions and project objectives - 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.

Concept design options - 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.
• The municipality intends to work with the contractor and other interest holders to identify opportunities to maximize local social and economic benefits during construction and over the life of the project. This includes supporting workforce development and supplier diversity, with a focus on increasing participation by communities traditionally underrepresented in municipal procurement and civil infrastructure projects. An advisory committee, including representatives of the African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities, will be established to provide input on the development and implementation of a Workforce Development Plan and Supplier Diversity Plan.

Questions?

Call 311 or email contactus@311.halifax.ca.