There will be a brief Special Meeting of Bridgewater Town Council on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, just prior to the regularly scheduled Discussion Session. The meeting is to receive a time-sensitive flag-flying request, per Town of Bridgewater Policy 81.

As usual, the meeting will be made available via livestream and open to the public at Town Hall, located at 60 Pleasant Street in Bridgewater.

STORM WASTE NOTICE

Our colleagues at the Municipal Joint Services Board and the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre wish to advise that any storm debris and organic waste that wasn't collected on September 25, 2023, as part of your regular pickup day will instead be collected on September 26.

Residents are also reminded that bundling and tying branches makes it easier for the waste hauler to collect your tree waste.

Questions? Call 1-855-530-3324.

HEBB LAKE DAM UPDATE
(Issued at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2023)

Water levels across the province continue to be higher then normal.

While Hebb Lake Dam remains within its normal operating range, the Public Service Commission of Bridgewater (PSCB) is going to proactively carry out an additional gradual release water to allow the dam to transition into its normal winter operating range slightly earlier than normal.

Doing so will ensure that there is sufficient space for any upcoming hurricanes or severe rain events that might impact our region.

As part of this process, the PSCB will remove a log from the dam on Thursday, September 21, 2023 -- this will bring the total logs removed to two. The PSCB had previously removed a log on August 23, 2023, also for the purposes of allowing a slow release of water.

There will be a special waste collection for storm debris in the Town of Bridgewater during the week of September 25 to 29, 2023. Collection will take place on your regular pickup day.

Collection Guidelines:

✅ Maximum 4 cu yards (3 cubic metres) of material per household

✅ Maximum weight per piece of landfill waste: 100 lbs

✅ Maximum length per piece: 6 feet

Bundling, tying, and putting small items in boxes makes it easier for the waste hauler to collect your waste. Place waste curbside by 8:00 am on collection day.

Hazardous waste cannot be collected during this pickup. These items must be taken to the Recycling Centre's hazardous waste depot at 908 Mullock Road, Whynotts Settlement.

You can also visit www.communityrecycling.ca for more information.

PUBLIC UPDATE >>> PARKS, TRAILS, AND MORE UPDATES
(Issued at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday, September 17, 2023)

TRAILS AND PARKS IN BRIDGEWATER
Parks staff have advised that trails and parks have been assessed and there are no major safety concerns. The public may resume use of parks and trails in Bridgewater, with the understanding that they are passable with caution as there still may be some small debris in places.

SPORTS FIELDS AND DOCKS
Bridgewater's sports fields and public docks on the LaHave River will re-open on Monday.

CEMETERY
Brookside Cemetery will remain closed until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, September 18, to allow for additional clean up.

Thanks to our crews for their outstanding work and dedication over the last 48 hours.

REPORTING OUTSTANDING ISSUES
You can report any outstanding storm issues online at www.bridgewater.ca/bee or by calling the Public Works line at 902-543-4142.

PAVEMENT RENEWAL WORK STARTS THIS WEEK
>>> Bridgewater's annual pavement renewal work will begin the week of September 18

The Town of Bridgewater will be coordinating pavement renewal projects with a contractor, Dexter Construction Ltd., including planing and paving, in many areas of the community for approximately three weeks, beginning around the week of September 18, 2023.

In total, the Town of Bridgewater has allocated approximately $600,000 toward pavement renewal this year. That budget does not include several hundred-thousand dollars in allocations for new streets or project areas where underground infrastructure work is taking place.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Work is weather dependent. Each section of street will take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete. Generally, planing work will take place first and motorists should slow down and use caution when crossing the lip/drop between a planed area and regular pavement. The work will include traffic being controlled with traffic control personnel.

Every effort will be made to minimize the disruption to residents and businesses in order to complete the work, however motorists are advised to expect delays when travelling throughout Bridgewater during the work and to allow for extra travel time accordingly.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Individuals with special needs who may be uniquely impacted by this project should contact the Project Manager as soon as possible to make them aware of your situation. We will work with you in an attempt to minimize your inconvenience as much as possible.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact the Town of Bridgewater Engineering Department at 902-541-4370 or you can reach out to project manager Justin Penny at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Visit www.bridgewater.ca/roads for a map of all work sites.

UPCOMING SENIORS' SAFETY ACADEMY

The Seniors' Safety Academy is back for the fall of 2023, with sessions taking place every Thursday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Our Health Centre in Chester, starting on October 12.

Seniors are invited to come and learn from experts, including RCMP, Legal Aid lawyers, and the Alzheimer Society.

Topics will include:

Fraud & scam prevention
Wills & power of attorney
Seniors' mental health
Alzheimer's and dementia
Emergency preparedness
... and more!

Spots are limited and registration is required to attend these weekly events, which run through November 16.

You can register by contacting the Lunenburg County Seniors' Safety Program office by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 902-543-3567.

The sessions will take place at Our Health Centre, located at 3769 Highway 3 in Chester.

The Seniors' Safety Academy is made possible by Our Health Centre, the Lunenburg County Seniors' Safety Program, Bridgewater Police Service, and the Nova Scotia RCMP.

FALL WOOD & METAL COLLECTION WEEK
>>> September 11 to 15, 2023, in Bridgewater

It's that time of year -- time to clean up the wood and metal that's been hanging around your property and get it out for the upcoming special wood and metal waste collection.

Wood and metal items will be collected on the following dates in these areas:

Town of Bridgewater
➡️ Monday, September 11, to Friday, September 15, on your regular collection day

Town of Mahone Bay
➡️ Monday, September 11 - the entire Town

Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL)
➡️ Monday, September 18, to Friday, September 29, on your regular collection day

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Wood and metal combined collection limits by weight or size are:
➡️ Bridgewater: 100 kgs (220 lbs)
➡️ Mahone Bay: 2 cubic metres (2.6 cubic yards)
➡️ MODL: 4 cubic metres (5.2 cubic yards)

Place wood and metal in separate piles at the roadside. Wood and metal items up to 1.8 m (6 ft.) long accepted.

Remove spikes and brackets over 15 cms (6 in.) from wood pieces.

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Objects such as fridges, freezers, dehumidifiers, conditioners, and water coolers are not collected curbside unless professionally drained and stickered. Propane are tanks not accepted curbside. Drop these off at the Recycling Centre, 908 Mullock Road, Whynotts Settlement, free of charge.

Two bulky landfill items (up to 6 ft long and 220 lbs each) can be collected on your regular garbage collection days throughout the year in Bridgewater, Mahone Bay, and the Municipality of Lunenburg. Hazardous waste items not collected curbside.

Questions? Call our colleagues at the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre at 902-543-2991 or visit www.communityrecycling.ca.

TRAFFIC NOTICE >>> LOGAN ROAD 

The public is advised that the following section of street will be closed to traffic to facilitate construction:

LOGAN ROAD, from St. Phillips St. to Wentzell Dr., from 7 a.m. on Friday, September 8, until 5 p.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023.

This section of street will be closed to traffic until work is complete. Local traffic only is permitted -- members of the public and delivery vehicles looking to access businesses in the area will still be able to do so. Traffic will be detoured accordingly. 

The Town of Bridgewater regrets any inconvenience caused to residents and businesses. For a map of the work area, please visit www.bridgewater.ca/roads.

TRAFFIC NOTICE > HIGH AND VICTORIA INTERSECTION
>>> Thursday, September 7 and Friday, September 8, 2023Work crews will move into the intersection of High Street and Victoria Road on Thursday, September 7, and Friday, September 8.

As a result of this necessary underground infrastructure work, this intersection will be closed to all traffic. Marked detour routes will be in place. Motorists should allow extra travel time to reach their destination if commuting through this part of town.

Detours impacting common routes are as follows:

> IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING WEST (UP) VICTORIA ROAD
You can detour off Victoria Road and take York Street then Dominion Street to ultimately reach the High Street area OR you can detour off Victoria on to St. Phillips Street and travel via Logan Road to reconnect with Highway 325 just outside of Bridgewater in Wileville.

> IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING EAST (INTO TOWN) FROM WILEVILLE
You can detour off Highway 325 and enter Town either via Logan Road then St. Phillips Street OR you can detour off the Highway 325 via William Wile Road/Hebbville.

We apologize for the short-term disruption as this necessary upgrading project takes place. Local traffic (people who live, work, and do business in the closure area) will still be able to access the area for those purposes - but please remember that the intersection of High and Victoria will be impassable due to the nature of the work.

Next week, crews will move out of the High and Victoria intersection and focus on work on High Street. At that time, traffic patterns and detours will change and additional traffic-flow information will follow.

For a map of the closure area, please visit https://www.bridgewater.ca/roads.

The Town of Bridgewater will be coordinating pavement renewal projects with a contractor, Dexter Construction Ltd., including planing and paving, in many areas of the community for approximately three weeks, beginning around the week of September 18, 2023. In total, the Town of Bridgewater has allocated approximately $600,000 toward pavement renewal this year. That budget does not include several hundred-thousand dollars in additional allocations for paving new streets or project areas where underground infrastructure work is taking place.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Work is weather dependent. Each section of street will take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete. Generally, planing work will take place first and motorists should slow down and use caution when crossing the lip/drop between a planed area and regular pavement. The work will include traffic being controlled with traffic control personnel. Every effort will be made to minimize the disruption to residents and businesses in order to complete the work, however motorists are advised to expect delays when travelling throughout Bridgewater during the work and to allow for extra travel time accordingly.

PROJECT SITES
This year's list of pavement renewal work areas includes:
▪ Aberdeen Road (from Davison to North)
▪ Alpine Drive (from Dublin to Beechwood)
▪ Audrey Drive (from Meldrum to Bennett)
▪ Exhibition Drive (from Jubilee to Dufferin)
▪ Glen Allan Drive ( LaHave to Trail Crossing)
▪ Hirtle Drive (from Aberdeen to MacNeil )
▪ Jubilee Road (from Southridge to DesBrisay)
▪ King Street (from Logan to Fancy)
▪ King Street (from School to Jubilee)
▪ York Street (from Victoria to Starr)

For a map of work sites, please visit www.bridgewater.ca/roads.

SPECIAL NEEDS
Individuals with special needs who may be uniquely impacted by this project should contact the Project Manager as soon as possible to make them aware of your situation. We will work with you in an attempt to minimize your inconvenience as much as possible.If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact the Town of Bridgewater Engineering Department at 902-541-4370 or you can reach out to project manager Justin Penny at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PUBLIC NOTICE >>> SCHEDULED BLASTING

The public is advised that drilling and blasting will take place in and around the future Exit 12A interchange area, beginning on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The drilling and blasting work is scheduled to last approximately two weeks barring any delays.

The blast area is located within about half a kilometre of the junction of the Upper Branch Road and St Phillips Street. Access in the area will be restricted by the contractor during blasting activities.

The contractor has advised that when blasting occurs, it will tentatively take place between mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Warnings near the site will be given by three soundings of an air horn, followed by one air horn sounding after the blast to signal "all clear".