Oshawa Bridge Construction is prompting three city councillors to demand clearer answers from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation as overlapping road closures continue creating significant traffic problems across the city’s west and south ends.
Councillors Brian Nicholson, Tito-Dante Marimpietri and John Gray want Durham Region staff to contact the province and clarify whether current Highway 401 bridge work at Park Road and Cubert Street will continue through the winter.
If construction is scheduled to stop during the colder months, the councillors also want to know whether the currently closed roads could temporarily reopen to transit and local traffic.
The questions come as Oshawa residents deal with several major provincial and Metrolinx infrastructure projects at the same time.
Park Road and Cubert Street Work Tied to Highway 401
Ontario is replacing the Park Road and Cubert Street overpasses as part of preparations for the future widening of Highway 401.
The province’s 2026 budget specifically identifies the Wilson Road, Park Road and Cubert Street overpasses in Oshawa as bridge projects intended to accommodate future Highway 401 widening.
Park Road closed between Bloor Street and College Avenue beginning July 13 for the Ministry of Transportation project, according to the City of Oshawa.
The councillors now want the ministry to provide details about the winter phase of the construction schedule.
Their questions include whether crews will continue working throughout winter, when work would stop and restart if there is a seasonal pause, and whether Park Road or Cubert Street could reopen temporarily during any shutdown.
Simcoe Street Closed for Approximately Two Years
Another major contributor to the traffic disruption is the Simcoe Street bridge replacement, which is being managed by Metrolinx as part of the Bowmanville Extension of Lakeshore East GO service.
Simcoe Street closed between Avenue and Albany streets in January 2026 and is expected to remain closed for approximately two years.
Metrolinx says the existing bridge over the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail corridor is being replaced so the rail corridor can be expanded and an additional GO train track installed.
The Bowmanville Extension will eventually extend Lakeshore East GO service nearly 20 kilometres east from Oshawa to Bowmanville.
Wilson Road Closure Adds to Traffic Pressure
The Wilson Road South overpass replacement is another project affecting local traffic.
Oshawa has identified it as one of several concurrent transportation projects being led by other levels of government.
The closure of Wilson Road, combined with work at Simcoe Street, Park Road and Cubert Street, has reduced the number of available north-south routes across the Highway 401 and rail corridors.
That has forced more vehicles onto remaining routes and increased congestion during busy periods.
Councillors Want Roads Reopened if Winter Work Stops
The central issue raised by the councillors is whether motorists should continue facing full road closures if active construction is suspended during winter.
They argue that closing the roads while crews are actively working is understandable, but if the projects are scheduled to pause for an extended period, reopening Park Road or Cubert Street could provide relief to residents and public transit.
The councillors are asking Durham Region staff to obtain a clear answer from the Ministry of Transportation.
No confirmed winter work schedule for the two projects was included in the supplied article.
Clarington Also Experiencing Bridge Construction
The impacts of Highway 401 infrastructure work are not limited to Oshawa.
Clarington has also faced bridge construction associated with the provincial highway corridor.
Ontario’s 2026 budget identifies the Bennett Road overpass in Clarington as another replacement project supporting future Highway 401 widening.
The supplied report notes that construction there has also required major closures, including a temporary full shutdown of Highway 401 during critical bridge work.
GO Expansion Adds Long-Term Infrastructure Work
Oshawa’s traffic challenges are also tied to the long-term Bowmanville GO Extension.
The project will extend Lakeshore East train service eastward and requires major rail, bridge and station infrastructure.
Metrolinx has already begun the Simcoe Street bridge replacement, with further work expected as the extension progresses.
The project is expected to eventually connect Oshawa with new stations farther east toward Courtice and Bowmanville.
Residents Await Provincial Response
For now, the immediate concern surrounding Oshawa Bridge Construction is whether residents will continue living with the Park Road and Cubert Street closures throughout winter even if construction activity slows or temporarily stops.
The councillors are seeking a detailed schedule so residents, businesses and transit operators can better understand what to expect.
Until the Ministry of Transportation provides that information, the timing of any possible winter reopening remains uncertain.
