2026 Watermain Renewal Program

Project Type

Roads

Underground Infrastructure

Project #

EN1537

Status

In Progress

Estimated Completion

Fall 2026

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

October 21, 2026

Construction continues to progress. The following work and road/lane closures are currently ongoing:

Shanty Bay Road (Blake Street to Johnson Street)
Concrete curb installation and base asphalt paving are now complete. Sidewalk, driveway and boulevard restoration work is scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. Lane closures and shifts are expected to remain in place until November 27, 2026.
Shanty Bay Road (Johnson Street to Crestwood Drive)
Concrete curb removal and installation, catch basin replacements, and asphalt resurfacing are currently underway. Sidewalk, driveway and boulevard restoration work is scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. Lane closures and shifts are expected to remain in place until November 3, 2026, followed by a road closure November 3–27, 2026. Motorists are to follow the signed detour route.
Shanty Bay Road (Crestwood Drive to Penetanguishene Road)
Watermain and water service installation is now complete. Concrete curb removal and installation, along with asphalt resurfacing, are currently underway. Driveway and boulevard restoration work is scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. Lane closures and shifts are expected to remain in place until November 27, 2026.
Crestwood Drive (Shanty Bay Road to Baycrest Drive)
Watermain and water service installation is now complete. Concrete curb removal and installation are currently underway. Asphalt resurfacing, driveway and boulevard restoration work is scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. Lane closures and shifts are expected to remain in place until November 27, 2026.
Vancouver Street (Blake Street to Kempenfelt Drive)
Roadway, curb, sidewalk, driveway and boulevard restoration work is scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. Lane closures and shifts are expected to remain in place until November 27, 2026.

Signed detour routes will be in place to guide motorists around road closures. For additional information and current road closure details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.

September 28, 2026
Construction continues to progress. The following work and road/lane closures are currently ongoing:
- Shanty Bay Road (Blake to Johnson)
  Concrete curb, sidewalk, catch basin replacement and road restoration work is currently ongoing, and will continue over the coming weeks. Shanty Bay Road between Blake and Johnson is now expected to remain closed until October 9, 2026.
- Shanty Bay Road (Johnson to Crestwood)
  The lined watermain is now live and residents between Johnson and 161 Shanty Bay are now connected. The remaining residents between 161 Shanty Bay and Penetanguishene will remain on the temporary watermain until the watermain installation work on Crestwood is complete. This section of road remains open, with intermittent lane disruptions expected as work continues.
- Shanty Bay Road (Crestwood to Penetanguishene)
  Watermain and water service installation is nearing completion. Intermittent lane disruptions are expected as remaining work continues.
- Crestwood Drive (Shanty Bay to Baycrest)
  Watermain and water service installation is ongoing. Intermittent lane disruptions are expected as remaining work continues.
Restoration work on Vancouver Street (Blake to Kempenfelt) is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
Signed detour routes are in place to guide traffic around the closures. For additional information and current road closure details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
September 10, 2026
Construction continues to progress. The following work and road/lane closures are currently ongoing:
- Shanty Bay Road (Blake to Johnson)
  Concrete curb, sidewalk, catch basin replacement, and road restoration work is currently ongoing and will continue over the coming weeks. Shanty Bay Road between Blake and Johnson is expected to remain closed until October 2, 2026.
- Shanty Bay Road (Johnson to Crestwood)
  The lined watermain has now been commissioned and will be connected to the live watermain in the coming days. Residents currently connected to the temporary watermain between Johnson Street and 145 Shanty Bay Road will be transitioned to the lined watermain next week. The remaining residents between 145 Shanty Bay Road and Penetanguishene Road will remain on the temporary watermain until the watermain installation work on Crestwood Drive is complete. This section of road remains open, with intermittent lane disruptions expected as work continues.
- Shanty Bay Road (Crestwood to Penetanguishene)
  Watermain and water service installation is nearing completion, with a road closure expected to remain in effect until September 11, 2026. Once the road reopens, intermittent lane disruptions are expected as remaining work continues.
- Crestwood Drive (Shanty Bay to Baycrest)
  Watermain and water service installation is ongoing. A road closure is currently in place until September 18, 2026.
Restoration work on Vancouver Street (Blake to Kempenfelt) is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
Signed detour routes are in place to guide traffic around the closures. For additional information and current road closure details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
September 1, 2026
Construction is progressing on the Shanty Bay Road watermain renewal project. The following work and road closures are currently ongoing:
- Shanty Bay Road (Blake to Johnson)
  Watermain and water service installation is now complete. Watermain lining has also been completed. All properties have been transitioned off the temporary watermain and are now serviced by the new or lined watermain. Concrete curb, sidewalk, catch basin replacement, and road restoration work is currently underway and will continue over the coming weeks. Shanty Bay Road between Blake Street and Johnson Street is expected to remain closed until October 2, 2026.
- Shanty Bay Road (Johnson to Crestwood)
  Watermain lining is now complete. Work within the lining pits is ongoing. Watermain commissioning will commence the week of September 28. This section of road remains open, with intermittent lane disruptions expected as work continues.
- Shanty Bay Road (Crestwood to Penetanguishene)
  Watermain and water service installation is nearing completion, with a road closure expected to remain in effect until September 11, 2026. The roadway will be open to two-way traffic over the Labour Day weekend, beginning the end of day September 4 and will close again on Tuesday, September 8.
- Crestwood Drive (Shanty Bay to Baycrest)
  Watermain installation has begun. A road closure is currently in place.
  The roadway will be opened to two way traffic over the Labour Day weekend, beginning the end of day September 4 and will close again on Tuesday, September 8.
- Vancouver Street (Blake to Kempenfelt)
  Watermain lining is complete. The road is now open to traffic.
Signed detour routes are in place to guide traffic around the closures. For additional information and current road closure details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
August 26, 2026
Construction is progressing on the Shanty Bay Road watermain renewal project. The following work and road closures are currently ongoing/upcoming:
- Shanty Bay Road (Puget to Johnson)
  Watermain and water service installation is nearing completion and is anticipated to be finished by the end of August. Concrete and road restoration work is underway and will continue over the coming weeks. Shanty Bay Road (Blake to Johnson) and Vancouver Street (Blake to Kempenfelt) are expected to remain closed until September 4, 2026.
- Shanty Bay Road (Crestwood to Penetanguishene)
  Watermain installation is underway, with a road closure expected to remain in effect until September 11, 2026.
- Crestwood Drive (Shanty Bay to Baycrest)
  Watermain installation is scheduled to begin the week of August 31. A road closure is expected to be in place August 31–September 11, 2026.
Signed detour routes are in place to guide traffic around the closures. For additional information and current road closure details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
Completed Watermain Lining Areas
Watermain lining is now complete on:
- Vancouver Street
- Blake Street
- Shanty Bay Road (Blake to Puget and Johnson to Crestwood)
Temporary watermains remain in service to maintain water supply to residents. The temporary watermain on Vancouver Street, Blake Street, and Shanty Bay Road between Blake and Puget is anticipated to be removed by the end of August. Removal of the temporary watermain on Shanty Bay Road between Johnson and Crestwood is anticipated to be completed in early September.
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.
August 6, 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 nearing completion. A temporary watermain remains in service to maintain water supply to residents while the lining work is completed.
Watermain lining operations are now beginning on Shanty Bay Road between Johnson and Crestwood. A temporary watermain will be 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.
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.
July 16, 2026
Watermain installation is currently underway on Shanty Bay Road between Puget Street and Johnson Street.
Watermain lining operations are also in progress on Vancouver Street, Blake Street and Shanty Bay Road. A temporary watermain has been installed to maintain water service while the lining work is being completed.
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.
July 3, 2026
As the watermain lining project continues, you can expect occasional lane closures and traffic delays.
Full closures of the following roads are expected to be in place July 6–September 4, 2026:
- Shanty Bay Road between Blake Street and Johnson Street
- Vancouver Street between Blake Street and Kempenfelt Drive
A signed detour route will be in place to guide traffic around the closures. For additional details, visit barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
The July 2–4 Blake Street closure will be rescheduled and more information will be provided once details are confirmed.
June 25, 2026
North Rock Construction has begun work on the project. Temporary watermain installation is currently underway in preparation for upcoming watermain lining activities. You can expect occasional lane closures and traffic delays during the temporary watermain installation.
A full road closure of Blake Street between Vancouver and Shanty Bay is scheduled from July 2 to July 4 to facilitate watermain installation. A signed detour route will be in place to direct traffic around the closure. Details are posted at barrie.ca/RoadClosures.
Barrie Transit service will also be detoured during the road closure. Details regarding transit service impacts and detour routes will be posted on MyRideBarrie.ca/news.
May 27, 2026
North Rock Construction will begin construction activities in June. Residents can expect to see crews and equipment mobilizing to the area in the coming weeks. A May 2026 info bulletin will be delivered to nearby residents.

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 five weeks.
Shanty Bay Road between Crestwood (east side of intersection) and Penetanguishene: Full road closure for approximately three weeks.
Crestwood Drive between Shanty Bay and Penetanguishene: Full road closure for approximately five weeks. Access through the intersection of Crestwood Drive and Shanty Bay Road will be maintained.