The Edgewater Project

Thanks so much for your interest in the project, we always appreciate when people reach out! Our partners at Coastal Action have confirmed that the plants are actually doing really well. With this kind of tidal wetland installation, it’s completely normal that they don’t fill in all the open space right away. What we’re seeing is exactly what we hoped for: the plants have survived, they’re spreading at their bases, and they’re producing seed, which is a great sign that things are progressing as expected. These systems take several years to really fill out, and everything is right on track with the projected timelines.

Coastal Action's research partners at TransCoastal Adaptations at SMU have been closely monitoring the site, and a couple of Master’s students are currently focusing on the vegetation side of things. The sediment used in the demonstration site was chosen specifically for these specialized plants, and we’ve learned a lot from that process. Those lessons have helped the Coastal Action team refine the sediment specifications for the expansion site now under construction: mostly tweaks to particle size and shape. If you’re nearby, you might notice that the sediment looks different this time: Coastal Action shared a photo of it on their social media recently. The nutrient makeup of the sediment was also selected to support the plants’ needs.

If you’re curious to dig a little deeper, there’s a year-one monitoring summary available on our Coastal Action's project website. It doesn’t focus heavily on vegetation, but it still offers a good overview of how things are progressing. Let us know if you have any other questions, our partners at Coastal Action are always happy to chat about the project!

Thank you for your question. The promotional video is most current. The Living Shoreline stops at the end of the church parking lots on Edgewater because the harbour bottom past that point cannot hold a rock sill safely. A 2024 CBCL geotechnical study drilled into the seafloor and found deep layers of soft sediment. Replacing this with stronger material would be too costly and too disruptive. For more details, see the Mahone Bay Living Shoreline Geotechnical Report under Documents: Flood Mitigation Measures on this site. 

Thank you for your question. Due to budget considerations, the pedestrian bridge was not included in the current phase of work. However, it remains a future possibility. In CBCL’s 2016 study, a second phase of work is planned for the Ernst Brook retaining walls, and the pedestrian bridge is expected to be included in the conceptual design for Phase II, pending available funding. 

The Blue Route Hubs Bikeway Feasibility Study is a really great resource and worth a read if you are keen to understand the influencing factors for new active transportation routes in Nova Scotia. Approaching Mahone Bay on Trunk 3 - The Lighthouse Route, bicycle route network planning highlights Edgewater and Main Streets as forming a transportation spine for the community. The 50 k/p/h speed limit on Edgewater Street is considered a barrier for recreational cyclists. With Edgewater and Main Street connecting services and shopping areas between Kedy's Landing and Edgewater/Main as well as being the main route connecting Blockhouse and Oakland and Mader's Cove coastal routes, any new off-road trail development that runs the length of Edgewater was going to align with active transportation and accessibility goals. The number of resources, strategies and policies that exist globally, nationally and provincially to support active transportation and enhanced connectivity are too numerous to post, but "best practice" will inform code of ethics, trail etiquette and rules for use, including yielding, safe speeds, and how to pass. Also, there are points of access along the length of the trail with marked crosswalks enhancing connection points across Edgewater Street. Landscape plans under documents on this site will give you an idea of softscape, picnic and resting areas, and points of accessibility along the waterfront trail.

Thank you for your comments. Please find the Staff Report (filed under Project Design documents on this site) requested by Council on September 25, 2025 to consult with project engineers concerning design options for the multi-use (pedestrian and bicycle) trail component on the Edgewater Street project.

The multi-use waterfront trail was designed through detailed engineering, planning, and accessibility studies, and guided by the Blue Route Hubs Bikeway Feasibility Study to enhance active transportation connections. Its two-lane design safely accommodates pedestrians, mobility devices, and recreational cyclists, supporting inclusive and sustainable mobility for all users.

Asphalt was selected for its firm, stable, and slip-resistant surface, meeting accessibility standards while providing year-round durability and easier winter maintenance. Alternatives like crusher dust and boardwalks are unsuitable due to erosion, accessibility limitations, and maintenance/clearing requirements and costs. The raised berm and chosen trail in the detailed design meet best practices for safety, accessibility, shoreline protection and flood resilience, and long-term upkeep. Dog walking along the trail may be best in the morning and early evening, or on grassy landscaped areas adjacent to the trail.  

A one-meter curbed median with planting beds separates the roadway from the three-meter raised waterfront trail, which includes post-and-rope guardrails, and handrails in select areas. This design replaces unsafe conditions where pedestrians previously walked directly beside 50 km/h traffic with no sidewalk, significantly improving safety and comfort. For further detail, please see the Landscaping Plans under documents/Landscaping on this site for medians, elevations, and softscaping. The Flood Prevention and Shoreline Enhancement study is a useful resource, too. 

Planting beds along the median, and a vegetated rock embankment on the waterside to stabilize the new flood mitigation structures, will restore some natural habitat. These native plantings enhance shoreline resilience and invite wildlife back into the revitalized coastal landscape, creating both ecological and visual benefits for the community.

The extension of the Living Shoreline, yes - also a wildlife corridor - expands a 60-meter pilot project into a 160-meter tidal wetland on the Mahone Bay waterfront. You may find the expansion well-illustrated and explained on Coastal Action's project website. 

In answer to your questions on the multi-use trail. The trail has been carefully designed to safely accommodate a wide range of users while maintaining full accessibility and a positive experience for everyone. Accessibility and active transportation have been key values in the development of the trail since the project's inception. The two-lane design provides clear separation for both pedestrian and wheeled traffic, and accommodates users passing each other with ease. To ensure safety and comfort for all, design features such as surface markings, good sightlines, adequate trail width, rest areas, and consistent surfacing will further support safe, shared use. The two-lane system is not about capacity, it’s about creating a shared, inclusive, and accessible route where everyone, regardless of ability or mode, can move comfortably and safely.

The multiuse trail linking Kedy’s Landing to downtown combines shoreline protection with active transportation, creating a raised and flood resilient, widened and paved accessible route that connects key areas of town and supports year-round walking and cycling. Guided by a decade of engineering, planning and accessibility studies; aligned with the Blue Route Hubs Bikeway Feasibility Study led by Bicycle Nova Scotia; and launched by multiple Federal and Provincial funding agreements, it features a two-lane design to safely accommodate pedestrians and recreational cyclists alike advancing Mahone Bay’s vision for a safe, connected, and sustainable active transportation network. 

Once testing of new water, sewer and electrical infrastructure is complete in early December, a basecoat of asphalt will be applied from Parish Street to Kedy’s Landing, followed by the final topcoat across all of Edgewater Street. The newly resurfaced roadway will reopen to two-lane traffic by mid-December, delivering upgraded infrastructure and improved access.The project timeline on this page provides more detail on the construction workplan.

The 100-meter Living Shoreline expansion to the existing 60-meter Living Shoreline, created in partnership with Coastal Action, will restore and protect vital coastal habitat along Edgewater. By combining salt marsh conditions, natural vegetation with protective rock sills, it will stabilize the shoreline, enhance tidal wetland health, and create a thriving refuge for birds and marine life. Not intended for human use, this protected wildlife corridor will feature interpretive signage to educate visitors about wetland rejuvenation and the return of native species to this revitalized salt marsh ecosystem.