FAQs

There may be short-term disruptions due to construction zones and shifting schedules. However, the long-term benefits will far outweigh the inconvenience, creating a cleaner, safer, more vibrant Mahone Bay.

The Town of Mahone Bay; CBCL Engineering & Environmental Design Services - a leader in municipal engineering services; Harbour Construction - a leader in civil contracting services; and MacKenzie Traffic Control Services make up the core team on the construction of Edgewater Project. 

Work is scheduled from April to December, making the most of the Canadian construction season.

The Edgewater Project is Mahone Bay’s largest capital project of the year and one of the biggest infrastructure investments in the town’s history. It upgrades essential services, eliminates straight pipes, protects the harbour, revitalizes public spaces, and builds a stronger, greener, and more connected community.

• Removal of straight pipes discharging into the harbour
• Upgrades and extensions to water, wastewater, storm systems, and underground power lines along Edgewater Street
• Construction of a raised, fully accessible waterfront trail
• Expansion of the Living Shoreline with adjoining vegetated embankment to fight coastal erosion
• Landscaping and beautification throughout the project area

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to:

• Protect and restore Mahone Bay’s harbour
• Improve accessibility, safety, and active transportation
• Prepare the community for future growth
• Enhance the beauty and resilience of waterfront spaces for residents, businesses, and visitors in Mahone Bay

The benefits are many: Expansion of the Living Shoreline will help the town fight coastal erosion. The raised coastal trail along Edgewater to the head of the harbour has several benefits including improved public safety, increased active transportation opportunities, and protection from storm surge. The extension of services means elimination of existing straight pipes, opportunity for growth in our community and bringing (almost) all Mahone Bay residents onto the Town grid.  

The total project budget is $14,915,274, with $14,225,827 allocated in the 2025/26 fiscal year. The Town of Mahone Bay is investing 35% of the costs, which has helped attract over $10 million in provincial and federal funding. For every dollar invested by the Town, nearly two dollars are leveraged from other partners, mainly Provincial and Federal Sources. The difference between the total construction cost and the external funding will be the Town's responsibility which, like all capital, will be paid from our own sources or borrowed from the Municipal Finance Corporation.  

Large infrastructure projects often face interruptions, such as:

• Unforeseen underground issues
• Shifting timelines
• Aligning with subcontractor schedules
• Reliability of inventory, equipment, other service deliveries
• Delays in obtaining permits
• Weather interruptions

All new systems must be tested before use. Most tests pass functionality and quality control standards, but if standards aren’t met, the team troubleshoots until the issue is fixed, sometimes taking hours or days.

The Town’s priority is ensuring the work is done properly and will last for decades.

Yes! Mahone Bay is open for business. Shops and services are ready to welcome you, and your support makes a real difference.

If you use any of the services in Town and this project impacts you, then this project is also for you. Instead of avoiding the construction, shop and dine locally to support the businesses working hard through this challenging season. The community can help by being patient and understanding throughout the process. It is frustrating living with construction for 6-9 months, but positivity and forward-thinking goes a long way to feeling like we are all in this together. Every step brings Mahone Bay closer to a stronger and more resilient future, for us all. 

Every effort will be made by the construction contractor to maintain traffic flows, particularly during the busy months of visitations and festivals; if possible both lanes will remain open, and when this not possible a minimum of one lane will remain open with traffic control. A short detour was in place during July and August, caused by a permitting delay, to ensure work could continue without interruption.

The detour happened because of a Fisheries and Oceans permit delay, which was outside our control. It was well signposted by the Town and added little extra travel and brought drivers back onto Edgewater near shops and services. Detours are only temporary, designed for safety and smooth traffic flow, a different way to reach the same great place.

No matter how little effluent is produced by remaining straight pipes, it’s too much, the protection of our harbour is vital to the success of our community. Also, extending water/wastewater services (as well as extending the electrical grid) will open up opportunities for future development.

Yes! A considerable portion of the project budget is devoted to plantings both above and below the high-water mark. The Town has formed a landscaping working group with community representatives to guide this work. Some existing vegetation will be cleared for harbour infill and building of the raised active transportation trail and protective rock embankment which will be planted with new vegetation. 

Yes, all crosswalks on Edgewater Street will have push-button audio and visual indicators as well as tactile indicators under foot, in accordance with the Lunenburg County Accessibility Plan.

We’re listening and adapting in real time, answering phone calls and e-mails, using social media/website/newsletter to update, coordinating communications with the Project Team, supplementing signposting when necessary, meeting with businesses, and improving communication through this engagement platform.