The City of Barrie will complete watermain renewal work in the Shanty Bay Road area from spring 2026 through fall 2026 to improve water infrastructure reliability and service for residents.
Project Updates
August 14, 2026
A full road closure on Shanty Bay Road between Crestwood and Penetanguishene is expected to be in place Wednesday, August 19–Friday, September 11, 2026 for watermain installation.
Access for local traffic will be maintained throughout the closure. Emergency vehicles will be permitted through the closure for the duration of construction. Access for school buses will be facilitated as construction progresses toward completion. Other through traffic will follow the designated detour route. Motorists should expect delays and allow additional travel time. For detour details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
Dates are subject to change due to weather and unforeseen construction conditions.
August 10, 2026
Watermain and water service installation is continuing on Shanty Bay Road between Puget and Johnson.
Watermain lining operations on Vancouver Street, Blake Street, and Shanty Bay Road between Blake and Puget are now complete. A temporary watermain remains in service to maintain water supply to residents.
Watermain lining operations are ongoing on Shanty Bay Road between Johnson Street and Crestwood Drive. A temporary watermain is being used to maintain water service to affected properties throughout the lining operations. Shanty Bay Road will remain open during the lining activities; however, motorists should expect single-lane closures with traffic controlled by flaggers.
Watermain installation on Shanty Bay Road between Crestwood Drive and Penetanguishene Road is scheduled to begin the week of August 10. A full road closure in this section is anticipated to begin the week of August 17.
The following road closures are expected to remain in place until September 4, 2026:
- Shanty Bay Road between Blake Street and Johnson Street
- Vancouver Street between Blake Street and Kempenfelt Drive
A signed detour route is in place to guide traffic around the closures. For additional details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
Scope of Work
The project includes:
- Watermain lining in existing watermain (trenchless method of installation) along with a temporary watermain system to maintain water service during construction;
- New watermain (open-cut method of installation);
- Pressure reducing valve (PRV) chamber at Shanty Bay Road and Crestwood Drive;
- New fire hydrants, water valves and water services;
- Removing and replacing the curb, asphalt roadways, driveways and boulevards impacted by work.
Construction Areas and Planned Work
| Location | Planned Work |
|---|---|
| Vancouver Street, Kempenfelt to Blake | Watermain lining |
| Blake Street, Vancouver to Shanty Bay | Watermain lining and new watermain crossing |
| Shanty Bay Road, Blake to Puget | Watermain lining, curb and driveway replacement, and full-depth asphalt restoration |
| Shanty Bay Road, Puget to Johnson | New watermain and services, curb and driveway replacement, and full-depth asphalt restoration |
| Shanty Bay Road, Johnson to Crestwood | Watermain lining, curb and driveway replacement, and full-depth asphalt restoration |
| Shanty Bay Road, Crestwood to Penetanguishene | New watermain, curb and driveway replacement, and full-depth asphalt restoration |
| Crestwood Drive, Shanty Bay to Penetanguishene | New watermain, east-side curb and driveway replacement, full-depth asphalt restoration, and PRV chamber installation |
About Watermain Lining
Watermain lining is a trenchless construction method that installs a new liner inside the existing pipe. Compared to traditional open-cut excavation, this method:
- Reduces disruption to roads and surrounding properties;
- Minimizes traffic impacts and construction time;
- Requires less restoration work;
- Extends the life of the existing watermain with reduced environmental impact.
Open-cut excavation is still required in areas where the watermain size must change or where the existing watermain contains significant bends or changes in pipe size.
Traffic and Access
- The Johnson’s Beach parking lot will remain open throughout construction.
- Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction, and emergency vehicle access will always be provided.
- Most streets within the construction area are expected to maintain at least one lane of traffic during regular construction hours. Temporary lane reductions and traffic delays can be expected.
The following temporary road closures are anticipated:
- Shanty Bay Road between Puget and Johnson (west side of intersection): Full road closure for approximately 5 weeks.
- Shanty Bay Road between Crestwood (east side of intersection) and Penetanguishene: Full road closure for approximately 3 weeks.
- Crestwood Drive between Shanty Bay and Penetanguishene : Full road closure for approximately 5 weeks. Access through the intersection of Crestwood Drive and Shanty Bay Road will be maintained.