Downtown Paris Master Plan: The Downtown Dig

The main intersection at William Street (including the William Street bridge) and Grand River Street North in downtown Paris is OPEN!

This also means Emily St, Charlotte St and Broadway St East have returned back to their normal, two-way traffic flow.

Let’s keep our community vibrant, safe, and moving smoothly. Share the road with extra care.

Enjoy the beautiful new streets and thank you for keeping Paris safe!

A friendly reminder that final paving between Mechanic Street and the Nith River Bridge will still occur on Tuesday, October 27, as previously advertised.

Stay informed

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page.
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig for additional information.
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook and Instagram.

Once the main intersection at William St and Grand River St opens, crews will move to the final paving on Grand River St N (between Mechanic St and the Nith River Bridge) starting on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

What to expect

A temporary closure at the Nith River Bridge. Access to Wendy’s General Store will remain open.

Grand River St North between Nith River Bridge and William St will be temporarily inaccessible from vehicular traffic while work takes place.

The municipal parking lot at the Paris Cenotaph will also be closed.

Detour

Access through downtown via Willow St and William St (highlighted on the map below)

The finish line

These closures are expected to be complete in a few days. Downtown stores, restaurants and services remain open. Once this short paving stretch wraps up, all detours end and downtown Paris is fully open!

Thank you, Brant, for your patience, and to our local shops, restaurants and services for staying resilient through these major infrastructure and streetscape upgrades.

We look forward to enjoying the renewed downtown area with you!

Upcoming events

• Wednesday, November 11, 2026 - Remembrance Day Service: Honouring the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. Visit brant.ca/remembrance.
• Friday, November 20, 2026 - A very festive Jingle Bell Night hosted by the Downtown Paris BIA. Follow @DowntownParis,Ontario on Facebook and Instagram.

Stay informed

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page.
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig for additional information.
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook and Instagram.

Here is your mid-week update as we put on the final touches.

The William Street and Grand River Street North intersection is opening this week. We are targeting late Friday, October 23, or Saturday, October 24.

Please note, Emily Street and Charlotte Street will be returning to their normal two-way traffic flows. Pay close attention. Please drive cautiously and keep an eye out for pedestrians as everyone adjusts to the area.

What is next?

The veteran’s crosswalk will be completed shortly. We are honoured to celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion in our communities. Watch for the upcoming post celebrating this new crosswalk.

Final paving on Grand River Street North (between Mechanic Street and the Nith River Bridge) is scheduled for next week (expected to start on Tuesday). This paving is expected to only take a few days. We will keep you informed about the timing and upcoming short-term traffic changes as this final paving occurs near the Nith River Bridge. Once this final paving occurs, the Downtown Dig detours will be complete and Downtown Paris will be fully open!

Please note that this work depends on the weather.

Stay informed

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page.
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig for additional information.
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook and Instagram.

The Downtown Dig is entering its final stages, but completion has been slightly delayed due to a parts supply issue. While crews were aiming to fully open the road during the week of October 19, a delay in installing traffic signals at the William Street intersection has pushed the timeline back.

County staff remain optimistic for a late October or very early November full reopening. To keep the project moving as fast as possible, the contractor plans to work this Saturday, October 17 between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm (weather permitting).

Below is the revised, phased plan to get the road fully reopened.

Revised reopening phases

Phase 1: William Street intersection reopens (Targeted for the end of next week)

• Crews expect to finish and inspect the traffic signals.
• Once approved, the William Street intersection and Grand River Street North (heading north) will fully reopen.
• Paving and line painting for this section are already complete.

Phase 2: Full reopening (Immediately following Phase 1)

• Grand River Street North (between William St and the Nith River Bridge) will close for four days.
• This closure is required to pave the final layer of asphalt, install two raised crosswalks, and paint the Veteran’s crosswalk at Mechanic Street.
• We will share the detour route utilizing Willow St and William St as we approach this work.
• Note: This 4-day phase is highly weather-dependent and will determine the exact final opening date.

Project status checklist

Completed milestones (100% Done)

• All watermain and sanitary sewer installations
• Siphon work, lining, and road granular
• Topsoil placement, curbs, and sidewalks
• Base asphalt, streetlights, and hydro repairs

Work remaining

• 95% Complete: Brickwork
• Traffic signal installation and testing
• Siphon chamber lid installation, backfilling, and area restoration
• Restoration of the east side of the William Street bridge
• Planting trees and greenery
• Surface asphalt paving (Mechanic Street to the Nith River Bridge)
• Installing the Veterans Crosswalk by Mechanic Street
• Power washing sidewalks and building faces
• Fixing any remaining minor deficiencies

Stay informed

County staff will continue to monitor progress closely and provide regular updates as we enter these final weeks of construction.

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page.
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig for additional information.
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you for your continued patience.

The final layer of asphalt is officially going down, bringing this phase of the Downtown Dig one major step closer to completion. We couldn't have asked for better fall weather to make it happen!

Brant, we are incredibly close to the finish line. Thank you once again for your patience as we rebuild our core infrastructure. These updates will enhance accessibility and pedestrian safety, securing a vibrant downtown for the next 75 years.

Stay tuned for details on the official street reopening in the coming weeks!

In just a few more weeks, we’ll be enjoying a beautiful, renewed downtown that has been carefully rebuilt to serve our community for decades to come.

Thank you for your continued patience and support throughout this major project.

As we approach the finish line, our downtown businesses continue to need your support. Please continue to shop, dine and support local!

Completed Milestones

• 100% Complete: All watermain work
• 100% Complete: Sanitary sewer installation
• 100% Complete: Siphon work and lining
• 100% Complete: Road granular
• 100% Complete: Topsoil placement in soil cells
• Infrastructure: Streetlight and traffic signal conduits done

Underway

• 98% Complete: Curbs
• 90% Complete: Sidewalk
• 95% Complete: Hydro primary line
• 95% Complete: Hydro secondary line
• Hydro tap box repair continues
• In-progress: Streetlights
• In-progress: Traffic signals
• In-progress: Base asphalt paving
• In-progress: Siphon chamber structure lid installation, surface backfill, and area restoration

Upcoming Work

• Brick work to recommence
• East side of William Street bridge is scheduled to be restored with base and surface asphalt
• Deficiency remediation to commence
• Tree planting
• Power washing sidewalk and building faces (up to the top of first floor)

We will keep you informed during the final weeks of construction.

Stay informed

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page.
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig for additional information.
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook and Instagram.

Brant, we are entering the final stages of the Downtown Dig (Grand River St N phase) with completion expected in October 2026!

A few important reminders:

• The Promenade will be decommissioned on September 14 so the finishing touches can happen on Grand River St N. Thank you to everyone who enjoyed this fun space!
• A veteran’s crosswalk will be installed on Grand River St N (by Mechanic St) to honour the Royal Canadian Legions’ 100th Anniversary.
• Businesses continue to need your support! The County will pause the next phase of Downtown Dig for 2027. The next phase includes Mechanic St, Broadway St, William St. More information will be shared as new plans are confirmed.

The Dig has made major strides, and we are in the homestretch!

Completed Milestones

• 100% Complete: All watermain work.
• 100% Complete: Sanitary sewer installation.
• 100% Complete: Siphon work and lining.
• Infrastructure: Streetlight and traffic signal conduits done.
• Concrete: West side sidewalk installed on Grand River Street North.
• Concrete: Curb and gutter placed (except William Street Bridge tie-ins).

In-Progress and Remaining Tasks

• Siphon: Internal work on the downstream chamber.
• Utilities: Six remaining hydro tap box adjustments. Two complete.

Upcoming Schedule and Next Steps

Streetscape and Amenities

• Fill planter boxes with topsoil.
• Install benches and bike racks.
• Erect traffic signal poles and equipment.
• Install all streetlights.
• Pour remaining sidewalk and curb sections.

Electrical and Utilities

• Decommission Grandbridge vault on William Street.
• Complete Grandbridge service connections (to buildings/businesses) and remaining hydro works.
• Remove temporary hydro on William Street (east of the bridge).

Roadwork

• Begin road surface preparation for paving.

Stay informed

We are committed to keeping you informed!

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig for additional information including detour maps, upcoming events and promotions, and more
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook and Instagram

Thank you for your continued patience and support.

Thank you to everyone who attended Riverfest this weekend! It was wonderful to see community members and visitors come together to celebrate Downtown Paris and show their support for local businesses.

Unfortunately, this evening’s Music Monday has been cancelled due to inclement weather. We are hoping to reschedule and will provide an update as soon as we have more information.

The Promenade will remain in place until September 14, when removal will begin to allow the construction team to complete the final elements of Phase 1 of the Downtown Dig. Until then, we encourage you to stop by downtown and enjoy this special feature!

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting the Downtown Paris Promenade and Riverfest:

Gold Sponsors

• Enersure Home Comfort
• McDonald's Restaurants of Brantford and Paris
• GrandBridge Energy
• Navacon Construction Inc.
• Prevail Activations (LED features)

Silver Sponsors

• Sharp Bus Lines
• Orlando Corporation
• 39 | Seven
  

Bronze Sponsor

• BDC
• SpinCO Brantford

Thank you to everyone who has visited the Promenade, participated in programming and supported Downtown Paris throughout the summer.

Hello, County of Brant residents. We want to share a quick update on how the Paris Downtown Dig is moving along, what is coming up next, and our plan for the future.

Thank you for your ongoing patience as we work to improve our community's core for decades to come.

Timeline Update

• Project Status: Construction is moving along smoothly since starting on April 8, 2026.
• Target Completion: As we get closer to the finish line, we can narrow our estimated completion date from “Late Summer/Early Fall” to October 2026 (estimated). We will keep you informed of changes.

Recent Progress (since July 10, 2026)

Crews have been busy over the last few weeks. Here is what has been accomplished since July 10, 2026:

• Watermain connections: All connections are complete
• Storm main: Installation is complete
• Sanitary main: Final connection on the east side of William St. bridge is complete
• Cobblestone Commons vault decommissioning: Construction work has officially commenced
• GrandBridge utility: Utility work has successfully commenced
• Basement parging: Application is fully complete

Upcoming Work

• Storm leads: Installation scheduled to begin
• Road construction: Road excavation, gravel placement and concrete curb pour to commence
• Traffic lights: Electrical work is set to start

Looking Ahead: 2027 Construction Pause

To support our local downtown businesses and ensure we have ample planning time, the County has decided to pause future phases of the Downtown Dig for 2027.

• What this means: There will be no heavy construction on Mechanic St., Broadway St. W., and William St. during 2027. You may only see minor utility work.
• Our next steps: We will use 2027 to study underground structures and engineering needs. This extra data will help us make the next construction phases as smooth and efficient as possible.

We are committed to keeping you informed. More updates will be shared as soon as details are confirmed.

Stay informed

• Do you want updates sent directly to your inbox? Subscribe to this page by adding your email address to the 'Stay Informed' box on this page
• Visit brant.ca/DowntownDig(External link)(External link) for additional information including detour maps, upcoming events and promotions, and more
• Follow the Downtown Dig on Facebook(External link)(External link) and Instagram(External link)(External link)

Thank you for your continued patience and support.

The Downtown Paris Master Plan continues to move forward.

On June 23, County of Brant Council endorsed the Downtown Paris Master Plan Progress Update. The report highlights the work completed to date, progress made on implementing the Master Plan, and the next steps as the project continues.

The Downtown Paris Master Plan was adopted in 2019 following extensive public and stakeholder consultation. Its vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and accessible downtown while preserving the unique historic character that makes Downtown Paris special.

You can review the Downtown Paris Master Plan Progress Update at brant.ca/plans.

As implementation of the plan continues, additional public engagement opportunities are anticipated in the future. To stay informed about future public engagement opportunities for this project and others across the County of Brant, please subscribe to the County's community engagement platform at EngageBrant.ca/register.

Thank you for continuing to follow the progress of this project and for helping shape the future of Downtown Paris.