Hamilton to begin two-way conversion of Main Street this year

The City of Hamilton says construction will begin over the next few months to convert Main Street from one-way to two-way traffic.  

After years of debate over the major road into downtown, the city says the first phase of the conversion should be underway before the end of the year. 

For years, Hamilton drivers have been accustomed to the fast, five-lane, one-way commute down Main Street into the downtown core. But that familiar route is about to change. 

“The intent of the project is to make Main Street safer, more reliable,” says Dipankar Sharma, acting director of engineering services for Hamilton’s Public Works department.

The city says it’s going to be asking for bids for contractors to do the work.

The first phase will convert Main Street from Dundurn Street to Victoria Avenue to two-way from 2026-27.

Once the work starts, that stretch of Main Street will become two-way and lanes will be kept open for businesses.

“Accesses to home and businesses will be maintained throughout the project. There will be definitely temporary disruptions including some detours,” Sharma says.

But he says that will mean long-term improvements.

When the first phase is done, the second phase will convert Main Street from Victoria Avenue to the Delta from 2027-28. This will see overflow traffic onto other arteries including Cannon and Barton streets as well as Aberdeen Avenue.

WATCH MORE: Construction begins on Hamilton’s Main Street restricting lanes for six months

There are mixed feelings about the whole project among drivers and pedestrians.

“I think it will make it too busy for pedestrians to cross both lanes and to be alert,” a resident says.

“It was two-way traffic when I was a kid, it was no trouble,” another Hamiltonian adds.

Long-time Hamilton politician and Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin says two-way conversion is the right thing to do.

“The street right now is basically a speedway into Stoney Creek. It encourages people to race through the city and not stop to support some of the businesses along the way and it’s also a pedestrian hazard,” McMeekin says.

“The idea is not to increase traffic speed or capacity.  It’s to make this corridor safer,” Sharma says.

The work covers six kilometres of road and is budgeted for $28.5 million, depending on the bids that come in from contractors.

READ MORE: Lane restrictions start Monday on Hamilton’s Main Street for six months