Windmill Road Functional Plan

Round 1 - Public Engagement

The municipality is inviting residents to learn more about the project and participate in the first round of public engagement. We would like your input on the current issues, needs, priorities and future opportunities for Windmill Road. You can provide feedback by filling out the online survey or contacting the project team directly.

• Online survey
  • The survey is closed now. Thank you for your participation. The What We Heard Report will be published soon.
• Contact us
  • Use the Questions tab at the bottom of the page to ask the project team questions about the project.
  • You can reach out directly to the project manager by phone at (902) 430-8348 or by email Leen.Romaneh@halifax.ca.

Your input matters. Public feedback will inform the vision, design objectives, and design options for Windmill Road. Your feedback will be shared in a summary report on the project website when this round of engagement is complete.

Background

Windmill Road is an important multimodal corridor that runs approximately 5.5kms between Wyse Road and just north of Akerley Boulevard, where it transitions into Trunk 7 (also known as Magazine Hill).

Windmill Road connects several communities and destinations, including Downtown Dartmouth and Burnside Industrial Park. It also provides a direct link to key regional roadway connections such as Highway 111, the MacKay Bridge, and Trunk 7 (Magazine Hill).

What is happening?

The municipality is planning on making changes to Windmill Road, from Wyse Road to just north of Akerley boulevard.

This project will develop a long-term vision for Windmill Road that will inform future investments to the corridor. This project will transform Windmill Road into a safe, comfortable and enjoyable street for people of all ages and abilities, using a variety of transportation modes, and in all seasons.

Why is this project happening?

The municipality has initiated a functional planning and design project for Windmill Road for the following reasons:

1. Anticipated Development Growth: In spring 2024, Halifax Regional Council approved zoning amendments to the land use bylaws for most lands along Windmill Road as part of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) initiative. Development projects are already underway and further development is expected in the short- to long-term, including potential for over 30,000 new units (~55,000 residents). Planning for such significant development means ensuring that the required infrastructure is in place to support the mobility needs of the community, now and into the future.
2. Condition of Existing Infrastructure: The condition of existing roads, curbs and sidewalks along Windmill Road is deteriorating. The sidewalks and multiuse paths are disconnected, raising concerns about pedestrian safety and accessibility. Due to the lack of curb and sidewalk, a couple of bus stops are inaccessible.
3. Burnside Connector: The Highway 107 Extension (Burnside Expressway) is a new four-lane divided highway that will extend 8.7 km between Highway 102 (near Duke Street in Lower Sackville), Burnside Industrial Park, and Highway 118. The connector will run parallel to Trunk 7 / Magazine Hill and Windmill Road and is expected to attract a lot of traffic from Windmill Road. This presents an opportunity to reimagine how Windmill Road functions as a link and a place (i.e., destination).
4. Policy context: Several municipal plans and policies have identified Windmill Road as a Strategic Corridor - meaning it has an important role in the regional transportation network. Key plans supporting the long-term vision for Windmill Road include:

• Integrated Mobility Plan (2017): provides direction to explore opportunities to prioritize active transportation and/or transit within corridors where total road capacity is increased through the construction or expansion of a parallel roadway (Action 124). The impending opening of the Burnside Expressway provides an opportunity to reimagine Windmill Road.
• Rapid Transit Strategy (2020): identifies a future Ferry Terminal within the Shannon Park neighborhood to support the anticipated population growth in the area.
• Active Transportation Priorities Plan (2014): designates Windmill Road between the Macdonald Bridge and Wright Avenue as a candidate bicycle route where cycling facilities are desired.
• Halifax Transit’s Moving Forward Together Plan (2016): identifies a new transit terminal (i.e., Wrights Cove Terminal) along Windmill Road. This terminal could serve as a hub for transit routes into and through the Burnside Business Park. This terminal is expected to be operational within the next few years.

The municipality will develop a set of design options and future scenarios that aim to balance the needs of all road users. This includes improving infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists and transit while maintaining adequate operations for motorists and goods movement

Learn more

To learn more about the project:

• Ask a Question: Use the “Ask a Question” tab (below) to ask a project team member a question.
• Email: Reach out to the project manager directly at: Leen.Romaneh@halifax.ca