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
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.
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.