Merritt Street Road Improvements and Mountain Street and Chestnut Street Extension
🔨 Project Updates
April 6, 2026 - Notice of Upcoming Construction: P26-063 - Merritt / Chestnut / Mountain Street Road Reconstruction and Underground Improvements
The Project
The City of St. Catharines has completed an Environmental Assessment for this project and finished the detailed design for the Merritt/Chestnut/Mountain Street Road Reconstruction and Underground Improvements Project.
View the Merritt / Chestnut / Mountain Street proposed works' PDF drawings.
The City will be tendering the project in April of 2026, with construction tentatively commencing in Spring 2026, contingent on a successful bid and budget approvals. It is estimated that the project will take between 8 and 10 months to complete, weather and permitting.
This project consists of recommended road improvements along Merritt Street (from Walnut Street to Glendale Avenue); the extension of Chestnut Street from Hastings Street to Mountain; and a portion of Mountain Street from Glendale Avenue to Chestnut Street, to address infrastructure deficiencies and implement the preferred road design as determined through this Class EA process.
Generally, the construction works will include full road reconstruction, concrete curbs and gutters, asphalt pavement structures, drainage and grading improvements, including new sidewalks, walkways/trails, retaining wall system installation, landscaping, and replacement of watermain and sewer infrastructure, including sanitary and storm sewers.
Active Transportation Improvement includes bike lanes, multi-use trails and widened walkways for completing Multi-modal transportation alternatives for Merritt Street, Chestnut Street East and West, Mountain Street, and the Glendale corridor, enhancing connectivity and expanding the city’s active transportation network, including traffic signal and pedestrian crossover improvements, pedestrian walkways/trail connections, and traffic-calming. The limits of the project area are shown below.
The project has been conducted and completed in compliance with Schedule ‘C’ of the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) guidelines (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
Community Engagement
How to Participate
The City is hosting a Public Open House ahead of construction. The purpose of the open house is to present the final design and allow residents, businesses, and interest groups the opportunity to review the proposed works to be implemented.
Team members will be in attendance to answer any questions or concerns regarding construction-related issues, such as access, driveway access, grading, accessibility needs, or pedestrian and transportation issues.
Public Open House
In-Person Public Information Centre, or Public Open House, has been arranged for:
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location: City Hall, 50 Church St., St. Catharines, Burgoyne Woods Room, 3rd Floor
The Public Open House will be conducted in an open-house format, with the public welcome to drop in at any time during the two-hour event. There will be no formal presentation made
Virtual PIC (Public Information Centre)
A virtual Public Information Centre (PIC) will run between April 28 and May 12, 2026. Please visit engagestc.ca/merritt-chestnut-mountain to review the proposed works and provide feedback regarding construction-related issues.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the project, please get in touch with one of the project team members identified below
Justin Slovak, B.Eng.
Consultant Project Manager
Urban & Environmental Management Inc. (UEM)
4701 St. Clair Ave. Suite 301
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 3S9
905.371.9764, ext. 287
Jim Stranges, C.E.T.
Senior Project Manager
City of St. Catharines
P.O. Box 3012, 50 Church St.
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
905.980.7143
*Information collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.
Engineering, Facilities and Environmental Services – Notice first issued on April 7, 2026.
Background
Oct. 6, 2025 - The 30-day review period for the Environmental Study Report (ESR) has concluded as part of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for this project. The ESR has been revised to incorporate feedback from the public and government agencies received during the review period. This final updated version of the ESR meets the requirements of the Class EA process. Throughout this process, no significant issues or appeals were raised, allowing the project to proceed to implementation since the ESR has now received approval. The City of St. Catharines is now ready to move forward with the project, beginning with the finalization of the detailed design and then advancing to the construction phases, tentatively scheduled to start in late spring 2026.
View the Revised Environmental Study Report here
July 16, 2025 - The City of St. Catharines has completed a Class Environmental Assessment to evaluate and recommend road improvements along Merritt Street, from Walnut Street to Glendale Avenue, and to consider the extension of Chestnut Street from Hastings Street to Brookdale Avenue and Mountain Street from Glendale Avenue to Chestnut Street. The purpose of this study was to evaluate options, recommend preferred solutions and mitigate any potential negative environmental impacts posed by the proposed works
At this time, the City is proceeding with the improvements to Merritt Street and the extension of Chestnut Street and Mountain Street, but only providing a pedestrian connection to Chestnut Street West.
View the notice of completion here
View the Environmental Study Report here
The Study
The City of St. Catharines is undertaking a Class Environmental Assessment to evaluate and recommend road improvements along Merritt Street, from Walnut Street to Glendale Avenue, and to consider extending Mountain Street, from Glendale Avenue to Chestnut Street, as well as Chestnut Street from Hastings Street to Mountain Street. Additionally, the City is moving forward with establishing the right-of-way for the extension of Chestnut Street from Hastings Street to Brookdale Avenue, as included in the City’s Transportation Master Plan. However, at this time, the City is implementing an active transportation connection only to Chestnut Street West. The purpose of this study is to evaluate options, recommend preferred solutions and mitigate any potential negative environmental impacts posed by the proposed works.
The Process
The study is being carried out as a Schedule ‘C’ project following the requirements of the Municipal Class EA process, which is an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This study will address the requirements of Phases 1 to 4 of the Municipal Class EA process. Once the study is complete, an Environmental Study Report will be prepared and available for public review and comment. A Notice of Completion will be issued at that stage.
Study Area
The study area includes:
• Merritt Street from 90m south of Almond Lane to Walnut Street
• Chestnut Street from Merritt Street to Glengarry Road
• Mountain Street from Glendale Avenue to the possible future extension of Chestnut Street
How to Participate
Public and review agency consultation is a key element of the process and input was sought throughout the study.
Community engagement has now concluded.
First Public Information Centre (PIC)
Held on Nov. 15, 2022
- Purpose: Review alternative solutions and gather public comments
Second Public Information Centre (PIC)
In Person:
- Date: April 16, 2024. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Purpose: Provide updates, identify changes, present preferred design alternative, obtain public and stakeholder input
Virtually:
- Materials and a comment sheet were available until April 2024.
If additional follow-up is required, the public may contact the project managers listed on the right column.
