How wide should a front walkway be in NB?

For a residential front walkway in New Brunswick, 36 to 48 inches (3 to 4 feet) is the recommended width — wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side or comfortably pass one another, and the minimum width that feels welcoming and functional for a main entry.

A 36-inch wide walkway is the minimum recommended for residential use and meets accessibility guidance for a single person with mobility aids. A 48-inch walkway is more comfortable, allows two people to walk side by side, and is the preferred width for main entry walkways at homes where accessibility is a consideration. Walkways less than 36 inches feel cramped and become difficult to navigate with winter boots, groceries, or mobility aids — a practical concern given NB's long winter season.

Longer walkways benefit from being wider. For a walkway that runs 20 feet or more from a driveway or street to the front door, a 48-inch width makes the approach feel proportionate and generous. Short connectors (5-8 feet from a step to the driveway pad) can work well at 36 inches. The proportion of walkway width to house facade also matters aesthetically — a 3-foot path on a wide house can look undersized.

NB winter conditions should influence your width decision. Snow clearing on a narrower walkway requires more passes, and when piled snow reduces an already-narrow walk, it becomes problematic quickly. A 48-inch walkway gives you room to shovel snow to the sides and still have a clear walking lane through the season. In Moncton, Fredericton, Bathurst, and Miramichi where snow accumulation from January through March can be substantial, the extra foot of width is genuinely practical, not just cosmetic.

From a concrete standpoint, width affects control joint spacing. For a 4-foot wide walkway, cut a control joint down the centre (at 2 feet) to create two 2-foot-wide panels running the length of the walk. Control joints should be spaced no more than 1.5 times the walkway width — so a 4-foot walkway needs a centre joint, while a 3-foot walkway may be acceptable with only transverse joints every 4-5 feet.

A front walkway replacement in NB typically runs $8-$12 per square foot installed. A typical 4-foot wide by 25-foot long walkway (100 sq ft) costs $800-$1,200 professionally installed with a proper gravel base and air-entrained concrete. New Brunswick Concrete can match you with local walkway contractors for free quotes.