A popular Dartmouth walking trail has been unexpectedly blocked off, causing a lot of anxiety in the community.

City councillor Sam Austin claimed that Atlantic Road Construction and Paving blocked part of the trail with fences, according to a social media post.

Austin said there was a brief standoff between members of the public and workers but soon calmed down.

The Dartmouth cove is the site of a proposed and controversial construction project that aims to dump fill into the harbour. Transport Canada recently rescinded their approval of the project.

Several photos on the Save Dartmouth Cove social media page show the entrance to the Trans Canada Trail was blocked near the trail’s entry points on Maitland Street and Old Ferry Road.

Other photos show orange spray paint and wood stakes on the grass.

Along with Austin, Dartmouth MP Darren Fisher and NDP Leader Claudia Chender expressed their concern over the incident.

Chender says she spoke to Build Nova Scotia this morning, who told her that the company does not have the authority to block the trail.

“It’s unacceptable that this company would employ these aggressive bully tactics,” Chender wrote on social media.