Ontario Construction Report staff writer
A four-year bridge replacement project is underway in Barrie.
The Ontario government’s plan to upgrade Highway 400 to 10 lanes includes replacing the Dunlop Street bridge, part of the province’s $30 billion plan to build, expand and repair highways, roads and bridges.
“Replacing the Dunlop Street bridge is a crucial step in widening Highway 400 near Barrie, which will reduce gridlock and save time for the more than 100,000 drivers who rely on this stretch of highway every day,” said Ric Bresee, parliamentary assistant to the minister of transportation.
The contractor is Dufferin Construction Company. Crews have started work on the Dunlop Street interchange, with activity focused on the new northbound Highway 400 on-ramp.
Mayor Alex Nuttall said the project would ultimately help reduce congestion along Dunlop Street and “make it easier for residents to get around the city.”
The bridge replacement is the final phase of the ministry’s replacement of three main bridges along Highway 400 through Barrie.
“This bridge, along with the Anne Street bridge, the Sunnidale bridge and the bridges at Lines 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Oro-Medonte are all part of the plan to repair, replace and expand bridges and roadways across the province to help support Ontario’s economy,” said Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey.
The Dunlop Street bridge will be widened to six lanes between the Highway 400 interchange ramps,however, no timeline was provided for when demolition of the bridge would begin. The entire project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2028.