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Invest in Hamilton

Home Business Support During Construction

Major infrastructure work helps improve Hamilton’s roads, sidewalks, underground services, transit connections, and public spaces. We know construction can also create challenges for nearby businesses, including changes to customer access, parking, deliveries, visibility, and pedestrian movement.

This page brings together key City of Hamilton construction resources in one place so businesses can find project updates, road closure information, interactive maps, and contact information.

Aerial view of downtown Hamilton, centred on Main Street going west to east

Main Street Corridor Renewal and Redesign

Find information about the City of Hamilton’s plan to renew and redesign the Main Street corridor, including its conversion from one-way to two-way traffic as part of a coordinated infrastructure investment. This initiative is intended to support safer, more accessible, and more reliable movement for all road users. The project area extends along Main Street from Longwood Road South to King Street East at the Delta.

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Business Support

Hamilton Business Centre Office

Hamilton Business Centre

Connect with the Hamilton Business Centre for small business information, guidance, workshops, mentorship, and resources to help start, grow, or strengthen your business. The HBC offers one-on-one consultations, free business advice, business plan coaching, seminars, self-employment programs, and digital adoption support.

 
An historical Canadian federal building and a row of commercial businesses below on James Street in Hamilton, Ontario

Municipal Programs & Grants

Businesses and property owners may wish to use a slower period during construction to explore improvements to their building, storefront, accessibility, signage, façade, or interior space. The City of Hamilton offers municipal financial incentive programs that support investment in strategic areas, including downtowns, BIAs, commercial corridors, and brownfields.
the 'downtown hamilton' sign in the city's international village

OBIAA Construction Mitigation Toolkit

The Ontario Business Improvement Area Association has developed a Construction Mitigation Toolkit to help municipalities, BIAs, and community partners plan for and respond to construction impacts. The toolkit includes guidance around planning, navigation, activation, sustaining businesses during disruption, recovery, samples, templates, best practices, and FAQs. Access may require OBIAA membership login.

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction may be required to improve or replace roads, sidewalks, water mains, sewers, bridges, traffic infrastructure, utilities, or other public assets. While construction can be disruptive in the short term, these projects help maintain and improve Hamilton’s infrastructure for businesses, residents, visitors, and future investment.

The City understands that construction can be disruptive for businesses. However, under Ontario’s Municipal Act, 2001, municipalities are prohibited from providing direct or indirect financial assistance to commercial businesses through what is known as “bonusing.” This means the City cannot provide direct compensation or reimbursement for lost sales, lost revenue, or other business impacts related to construction.

Businesses are encouraged to use the resources on this page to stay informed, plan ahead, maintain customer access, and explore available business support programs or eligible municipal incentive programs.

Explore Municipal Programs and Grants

Businesses can visit the City of Hamilton’s Construction in Your Area page to find current and upcoming capital construction projects. Projects can be searched by project name, year, or ward.

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The City of Hamilton’s Lane Restrictions and Road Closures page lists scheduled lane restrictions and road closures on City roadways. Businesses can use this page to help plan customer access, deliveries, employee travel, and communications.

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Start with the contact listed on the City construction notice or project page. Construction notices typically include project contact information. During active construction, businesses may also be able to speak with the on-site inspector or contractor representative about access issues.

View Current Projects

Yes. Businesses can use Open Hamilton’s interactive mapping tools, including maps related to corridor activities, road closures, capital construction, business improvement areas, and other municipal information.

Open Hamilton Interactive Mapping City of Hamilton Corridor Activities Web Map

In most cases, the City and its contractors work to maintain access to businesses during construction whenever possible. However, access may temporarily change depending on the type of work, construction staging, safety requirements, and site conditions. Businesses should review project notices and contact the project team if they have site-specific access concerns.

Businesses are encouraged to keep customers informed by updating their website, Google Business Profile, social media channels, email newsletters, and storefront signage. Consider sharing clear instructions about entrances, parking, delivery access, pedestrian routes, and whether your business remains open during construction.

Suggested message:

We’re open during construction!
Access to our business remains available. Please check our website or social media for the latest parking, entrance, and delivery information.

If construction is creating confusion for customers or affecting visibility, contact the City project contact listed on the construction notice. Depending on the project and site conditions, the City or the contractor may be able to review signage, wayfinding, or access concerns.

Construction timelines can change due to weather, underground conditions, utilities, materials, traffic staging, or other site-specific factors. Businesses should check the relevant project page regularly and review the City’s road closure and lane restriction updates.

Businesses can also subscribe to City road closure e-updates through the Lane Restrictions and Road Closures page.

View Road Closure Page

Contact the project representative listed on the construction notice as early as possible. Businesses should also speak with suppliers and delivery companies to confirm alternate routes, loading areas, delivery windows, or temporary access instructions.

Consider preparing a simple construction communication plan:

  • Let customers know you are open.
  • Share alternate routes and parking options.
  • Update your online business listings.
  • Post regular construction/access updates on social media.
  • Coordinate with neighbouring businesses where possible.
  • Contact the project team early if access, loading, or visibility becomes an issue.

Questions about supporting your business during construction?

We’re here to help connect you with the right information and resources. If your business is experiencing challenges related to nearby construction, use the contact form below to contact the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Office.

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