Nearly 70 residents and business owners took part in a virtual public meeting hosted by Metrolinx this week regarding the upcoming closure of a section of Simcoe Street in Oshawa, scheduled to begin as early as Monday.
The meeting, held Tuesday evening, was moved online after threats were made toward a member of Metrolinx’s communications team. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and receive updates about the nearly two-year closure.
The project will involve a full closure of Simcoe Street between Avenue Street and Albany Street, just south of Olive Avenue, to allow for the replacement of the bridge over the CPKC rail tracks. The new bridge will support the planned Central Oshawa GO Station, part of the Bowmanville Extension project.
Oshawa City Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, who visited the site during early preparation work, said city and regional officials explored options to minimize disruptions, including keeping a lane open. However, engineers determined that a phased or partial closure of the century-old bridge would not be safe or feasible.
According to Metrolinx, the existing bridge is more than 100 years old and nearing the end of its service life. The replacement structure will be higher, longer, and realigned to meet modern engineering standards. Construction is expected to take approximately two years.
Metrolinx stated that a full closure is necessary to ensure the safety of both the public and construction crews during multiple phases of work. Traffic patterns around the construction zone will be monitored and adjusted as needed.
Pedestrian detours will be available via the Michael Starr Trail, and access will be maintained at Olive Street throughout construction. Local traffic will also continue to have access during the project.
To support transit flow, a new bus stop on Gibb Street, east of Stevenson Road, for Routes 52, 56, and 92, came into service over the weekend.
In addition to Simcoe Street, bridge work is planned at Albert Street, Wilson Road, and Farewell Street in Oshawa, as well as Green Road in Bowmanville.
Metrolinx said it remains committed to keeping the public informed and available to address concerns. No additional public meetings are currently scheduled, but residents will be notified if future sessions are planned.
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