Nova Scotia·NewThe Town of Wolfville is looking at ways to ease traffic congestion along Main Street, including potential solutions such as installing traffic lights or a roundabout.One of the fastest growing communities in N.S. seeing tens of thousands more vehicles pass throughJosh Hoffman · CBC News · Posted: Sep 29, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoWolfville looking at options for iconic streetThe town is asking for directions on how best to deal with traffic congestion along Main Street. Council commissioned a study into the issue as tens of thousands more vehicles pass through one of Nova Scotia’s fastest-growing communities. Josh Hoffman has the story.The Town of Wolfville is looking at ways to ease traffic congestion along Main Street, including potential solutions such as installing traffic lights or a roundabout.Town council voted this summer to study the issue.”Infrastructure and Main Street traffic were the two top things our residents said they wanted to talk to us about [during last year’s municipal election],” said Mayor Jodi MacKay. Wolfville saw approximately 78,000 more vehicles pass through its downtown from July to October last year compared to the same time the year before, according to municipal staff. Construction on Highway 101 was behind some of the increased traffic the town experienced last year but it’s not the only thing driving the spike in vehicles, MacKay said. Wolfville Mayor Jodi MacKay said the high volume of traffic shows her town is vibrant. (Grey Butler/CBC)The town typically gets busier this time of year with students returning to Acadia University, the harvest season being in full swing and festivals taking place in the community, the mayor said.Wolfville, a popular tourist destination, is also one of the fastest growing towns in Nova Scotia. The study will analyze vehicle and traffic patterns at the major intersections along Main Street and result in recommendations to help with traffic flow.”The town is growing so it is going to continue to get worse,” MacKay said.’Gets a little nutty’Darlene Gaul has lived in Wolfville for 20 years and says congestion has only increased in recent years. It used to only be certain times of day that traffic was backed up. “It seems busy all the time,” she said. “It really gets a little nutty downtown.”It’s even worse when there’s an event happening or an Acadia varsity game at Raymond Field, Gaul said.As someone who typically walks Main Street, Gaul said she would feel safer if there were some traffic lights.Busy means vibrantThe hustle and bustle along Main Street has a silver lining for some in town.MacKay said it means there’s a vibrancy in the community that benefits residents, visitors and businesses. “This is a good thing in my opinion,” said Steve Haysom, who co-owns a business on Main Street. “Wolfville is booming.”The high level of traffic may cause some headaches but it’s very beneficial for local businesses in the area, he said.Haysom said he knows it can be frustrating to try to get through town sometimes. He’s optimistic council will be able to find some solutions, but he can’t help but look on the bright side.”People are coming here to enjoy what the [Annapolis Valley] has to offer and they’re supporting local by doing so,” he said.ABOUT THE AUTHORJosh Hoffman is a reporter for CBC Nova Scotia. Josh worked as a local radio reporter all over Canada before moving to Nova Scotia in 2018.
Wolfville studying ‘nutty’ traffic congestion along Main Street
