County of Brant iannounced the successful completion of the major construction activities for the 2025 season of the “Downtown Dig” project in downtown Paris on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
This infrastructure renewal project, which occurs every 75-100 years, replaced critical underground infrastructure and transformed the streetscape to create a more vibrant, functional, and accessible downtown for decades to come.
“We made it, Brant! We are thrilled to have reached this significant milestone,” said David Bailey, Mayor for the County of Brant. “We sincerely thank our residents, businesses, and visitors for their incredible patience and perseverance during this major undertaking. Your support for local businesses throughout the construction has been vital in keeping our community strong.”
The 2025 season focused on significant upgrades along Grand River Street North, between William Street and the Nith River Bridge. Key accomplishments for the year included:
- Completed critical infrastructure replacement: Upgrading essential water mains, sewer lines, stormwater and utilities (gas and electrical) beneath the road surface.
- Enhanced accessibility and aesthetics: Installation of wider sidewalks, new rollover curbs, and features like new streetlights, and a future tree canopy to improve pedestrian experience and climate resiliency.
- Improved traffic flow: Conversion of angled parking to parallel parking to enhance both traffic and pedestrian safety and create more space for pedestrians and business activities.
With the 2025 construction season wrapping up, plans are already in place for the next phase. In spring 2026, work will continue on Grand River Street North to finish the brick work and landscaping, hydro work and installation of new furnishings and begin the reconstruction of the William Street and Grand River Street North intersection. Subsequent phases will address Mechanic Street, Broadway Street West and William Street. These future phases will be officially announced in the future and are tentatively planned to occur in 2027 to 2029.
While construction can be challenging, these improvements ensure the longevity and growth of our community. The County of Brant remains committed to minimizing disruptions and ensuring safe pedestrian access to all downtown businesses during future phases.
Throughout the Dig, local businesses demonstrated incredible resilience. While businesses adapted to the challenges of construction, Downtown Paris welcomed six new businesses, with two additional businesses slated to open shortly. Furthermore, Downtown Paris has had two businesses expand with an additional one projected to expand later this year.
“This is a testament to our strong business community,” said Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “The resilience shown by our local businesses is the heart of our community’s character. Despite the challenges, they demonstrated incredible dedication. Their tenacity has kept downtown Paris a vibrant place to visit and shop during a difficult time. We are grateful for their partnership and perseverance.”
In addition, applications for the Community Improvement Plan from the downtown Paris businesses resulted in 14 grant applications being approved, totaling $201,000 (rounded) – a 302% increase in funding, attributing to $1,080,000 in improvements. These programs included signage, façade improvement, adaptive commercial reuse, planning and building, and housing improvements grants.
