Construction Notice - P26-063 - Merritt / Chestnut / Mountain streets Road Reconstruction and Underground Improvements

NOTICE OF CONSTRUCTION

TO RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES

AND PROPERTY OWNERS / MANAGERS

P26-063 - Merritt / Chestnut / Mountain streets Road Reconstruction and Underground Improvements

The City of St. Catharines is carrying out road improvements along Merritt Street (from Walnut Street to Glendale Avenue); the extension of Chestnut Street from Hastings Street to Mountain; a portion of Mountain Street from Glendale Avenue to Chestnut Street; and a new pedestrian multi-use path and sidewalk that will connect Chestnut Street East to Chestnut Street West.

Approximate Location of Construction Limits

Project Information and Details

The scope of the construction project includes:

• Full Road reconstruction, including concrete curbs and gutters, asphalt pavement structures, Street lighting, retaining wall system installation with drainage and grading improvements.
• New accessible sidewalks, walkways / multi-use trails to enhance and expand the city's active transportation network, including traffic signal and pedestrian crossover improvements and traffic-calming measures.
• Replacing the existing cast iron watermains with a new PVC watermain. This will include the replacement of any substandard water services within the road allowance to the property line and reconnection of water services to the new watermain within the project limits.
• Installation and replacement of sewer infrastructure, including sanitary and storm sewers, Improvements.
• New Streetscaping and landscaping, as necessary, that may get disturbed during construction.

Construction Information and Details

Peters Excavating Inc. has been awarded the construction contract. Construction for this project is anticipated to start in mid to late July 2026 and will continue until December 2026 (weather-dependent), with final restorations potentially into the spring of 2027. The map above shows the general area and the project limits.

Every effort will be made to maintain access to abutting properties and to minimize inconvenience to businesses, residents, pedestrians, and motorists. A City Construction Inspector will be present on the site during construction and can be contacted for information.

To protect construction workers and the public and to complete the work safely and in a timely manner, temporary lane restrictions will be in place for most construction operations. Road closures and detours will be avoided as much as possible.  Although the contractor will implement necessary traffic control measures, minor traffic congestion or delays will be unavoidable at certain times. Construction will take place in stages, and there may be delays between each stage.

The contractor will ensure that Emergency Services have access to properties throughout the construction period.  Please contact us if you have any specific accessibility requirements or concerns. Although the contractor is required to provide safe pedestrian access, care should be exercised when walking through or near any construction zones.

The contractor will be using City right-of-way property, including boulevards, for storage of materials used for the construction works. Restoration of boulevards will be completed at the end of the project.

Access to your driveway may be interrupted for a period of time to pour curbs and / or reinstate the driveway.  Every effort will be made to maintain access to abutting properties and to minimize inconvenience to businesses, residents and pedestrians.

The Contractor is required to provide you with advance notice of any interruption to access to your property.

In some cases, your property (lawn and driveway) may be disturbed during construction. The Contractor will carry out the necessary restoration, which in some cases will include the placement of new grass.

Pre-construction Inspections – Condition Survey

Prior to construction, representatives from OZA Inspections Ltd. will contact you to arrange an inspection / condition survey of the interior and exterior of your building. The purpose of this inspection is to determine and document any existing cracking or other damage prior to the commencement of construction. This information can then be used to determine the extent of the Contractor's responsibility in the unlikely event that any damage to your building occurs during construction. OZA Inspections Ltd. representatives will have identification with them.

Parking Restrictions 

The work will require us to limit on-street parking during construction. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable due to the nature of the work, as crews need room to dig and bring materials in and out of the site safely. Residents and businesses are requested to please find alternative parking on adjacent streets when required during construction.

Garbage and Recycling Collection during Construction

As a result of the proposed construction on Merrit Street, Chestnut Street east, and Chestnut Street west, it may, at times, be difficult for the garbage and recycling vehicles to collect your curbside waste.  Therefore, until the construction work is completed to the point where vehicles can travel safely in your area at their normal collection time, we request that curbside garbage and recycling be placed out for collection by 6:30 a.m. or, alternatively, by the evening before your scheduled curbside collection day. The garbage and recycling trucks will be dispatched regularly; however, if there is no access to pick up the curbside waste in front of your property due to construction, the construction crews may relocate the garbage to a more convenient area for pick-up before starting work each morning. Garbage bin collections on private property are not expected to be affected except for the possible traffic-related delays. Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.

Disruption to Water Service

Your water service will need to be shut off at some point during construction. This is so crews can connect newly installed watermains to the City’s existing watermain system and/or service lines to individual properties. You will be notified a minimum of 48 hours in advance of all planned water shutoffs.  There is also the possibility of emergency unplanned water shutoffs. This can happen when watermains burst or when service lines are ruptured. Crews will restore your water service as quickly as possible during these circumstances.  For both planned and unplanned water shut-offs, once water service is restored, we recommend running a cold water tap for five minutes prior to drinking tap water.

Restoration

Residents should note that at some locations, private irrigation/sprinkler systems may have been installed within the boulevards or easements.  The City-owned boulevard, from the curb or edge-of-road to the property line, is part of the road allowance. The boulevard may or may not include a sidewalk. Such irrigation / sprinkler installations are prone to damage during maintenance or renewal of underground infrastructure and new utility installations.  The City cannot be held liable for damage to anything installed in the boulevard without the City's approval.  Therefore, residents and property managers are requested to identify and clearly mark any parts of their private irrigation/sprinkler systems within the boulevards prior to construction.  The Construction Inspector will review and inform if any marked irrigation/sprinkler systems are in the way of the proposed construction.  Damage to boulevards and/or driveway aprons due to construction will be restored once construction of the watermain is completed.  If your boulevard or driveway is damaged during construction and is not restored, please contact us.

Health Precautions

Please be aware that the City’s contractors are required to strictly adhere to the health and safety guidelines for workplaces as required by the Province and local Public Health Authorities. 

Project Contacts during Construction

We look forward to working with you and having the City’s Contractor complete this project professionally and in a timely manner. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact the inspector on-site or the Project Team member identified below.

Driveways, if disturbed, will be repaired with the same material as the existing ones. Always avoid contact with hot asphalt or any construction material.

The City of St. Catharines recognizes that construction is an inconvenience to residents and business owners. Every effort will be made to minimize any inconvenience and to carry out the work with as few service interruptions as possible. We thank you for your patience, and your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.

If you require disability accommodation or materials in an accessible format, email accessibility@stcatharines.ca or call 905.688.5600.

Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services - June 22, 2026