Vanier Boulevard Closure - October 2026
Engineering and Public Works · Road closure
Vanier Boulevard closes October 7. Plan ahead.
Starting Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Vanier Boulevard will be closed to vehicles at the bridge over the CN rail line, near Sunset Drive, for about four weeks while crews repair the pedestrian bridge. People on foot can still get through.
This page has what you need to plan your trips. We’ll keep it up to date until the road reopens.
Status: closure starts October 7, 2026
At a glance
Closed to vehicles
Vanier Blvd.
At the CN rail bridge near Sunset Drive, next to the Shell station
Starts
October 7
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
How long
About 4 weeks
Target reopening: early November, weather permitting
On foot
Open
Pedestrians can get through the work area
Why the road has to close
The pedestrian bridge on Vanier Boulevard needs repairs. To do the work, crews have to set up specialized equipment right on the roadway, and there’s no safe way to keep traffic moving around it. That’s why the road is closing to vehicles, even though the work is on the pedestrian bridge.
This is a complex project with several partners: CN, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI), the Province of New Brunswick and the City of Bathurst. Because the bridge crosses the CN rail line, the work has to be scheduled with CN, and each partner has its own deadlines and approvals that the rest of the work is planned around. The closure plans have been approved by DTI.
That’s why the October 7 start is fixed. We know this closure will make getting around harder for a few weeks, and we appreciate your patience while the work gets done.
Getting around during the closure
Detour route
To reach the Vanier Boulevard and St. Peter Avenue intersection, use St. Anne Street:
- Get to St. Anne Street from Highway 11 or Ryan Avenue.
- Head east on St. Anne Street to St. Peter Avenue.
- Turn left and go north on St. Peter Avenue to Vanier Boulevard.
Heading west? Take the same route in reverse. Follow the detour signs on site.
Driving
Vanier Boulevard is a main link between Highway 11 and St. Peter Avenue. Use the St. Anne Street detour, give yourself extra time, and expect more traffic on St. Anne Street and St. Peter Avenue, especially at rush hour.
Trucks and deliveries
Vanier Boulevard is a truck route. Commercial drivers should follow the signed detour.
Emergency vehicles
Emergency services have been contacted, and the closure has been planned in coordination with them.
On foot
Pedestrians can still get through the work area. Please follow the signs and any directions from crews on site.
FlexGo riders
If you use FlexGo on-demand transit, allow extra time for trips in the area. For booking questions, contact FlexGo through the Chaleur Regional Service Commission.
Where we are in the project
Until October 6
Getting ready We are here
Planning the work, setting up the detour and letting the public know.
October 7
Road closes, equipment goes in Coming up
Vanier Boulevard closes to vehicles and crews set up the specialized equipment.
October
Pedestrian bridge repairs Coming up
Crews repair the pedestrian bridge. People on foot can still get through.
Early November (target)
Road reopens To be confirmed
The reopening date will be confirmed as the work moves along.
Project updates
September 29, 2026
Closure confirmed for October 7
Vanier Boulevard will close to vehicles at the CN rail bridge near Sunset Drive on Wednesday, October 7. The detour is by way of St. Anne Street.
September 21, 2026
Project presented at the September 21 public meeting
At the Regular Public Meeting on Monday, September 21, Matthew Abernethy, Senior Director of Engineering and Infrastructure, went over the project in detail in his report. The meeting was streamed live on Facebook and is on our YouTube channel. Watch his report on YouTube (starts at about 1:15:00).
We’ll add new updates here as the project moves along.
Stay in the loop
We’ll post updates on this page, send them through Voyent Alert!, and share them on the City’s Facebook page. If the schedule changes, we’ll let you know.
Signing up for Voyent Alert! is free, simple and anonymous.
Questions people are asking
Why does the whole road have to close for a pedestrian bridge?
The repair needs specialized equipment set up right on the roadway. There isn’t room to run traffic safely beside it, so the road has to close to vehicles while the equipment is in place.
Can the work happen at a different time?
No. The project involves CN, DTI, the Province of New Brunswick and the City, and the work over the CN rail line has to fit each partner’s deadlines and approvals. The October 7 start is locked in.
Can I still walk through?
Yes. Pedestrians can get through the work area. Please follow the signs and any directions from crews on site.
How will emergency vehicles get around?
Emergency services have been contacted, and the closure has been planned in coordination with them.
Is the road closed around the clock?
Yes. The equipment stays on the roadway for the length of the work, so the road is closed to vehicles 24 hours a day until it reopens.
Will garbage and recycling pickup change?
The Chaleur Regional Service Commission has a useful tool to track garbage and recycling pickup in your area: check the collection schedule.
You can also use the same tool right on our website through the waste collection schedule app, or visit our waste collection schedule page.
Will the road reopen on time?
The work is scheduled to take about four weeks, with a target reopening in early November. Weather or conditions found during the work could affect that. Any change will be posted here and sent through Voyent Alert!
Where can I find the detour?
Use St. Anne Street. From Highway 11 or Ryan Avenue, head east on St. Anne Street, then north on St. Peter Avenue to Vanier Boulevard. The map is under Getting around during the closure, and the detour is signed on site.
Who can I contact with questions?
Call City Hall at (506) 548-0400 or email city@bathurst.ca.
Questions?
Contact City Hall at (506) 548-0400 or city@bathurst.ca.
City Hall, 150 St. George Street, Bathurst, NB E2A 1B5