The Edgerton Road Bridge in Scugog is closed for a major replacement project expected to keep through traffic off the rural roadway until at least December 18.
The Township of Scugog closed the bridge on July 27 as construction began on Bridge No. 11, located approximately 200 metres west of Cartwright East Quarter Line in the Cadmus area.
The project has a construction budget of $1.75 million, according to Scugog’s 2026 capital budget. The municipality says replacement became necessary because the existing structure had deteriorated and was already subject to a weight restriction following a load-capacity evaluation completed in 2021.
Local access remains available
Edgerton Road will remain open to local traffic on both sides of the construction zone.
Residents living east and west of the bridge will continue to be able to reach their homes, but drivers will not be able to travel through the bridge site for the duration of construction.
The local-traffic-only section extends between Regional Road 57 and Cartwright East Quarter Line.
Residents should follow posted construction signs and avoid entering the closed bridge area unless they require local property access.
Detour available around closure
Drivers travelling through the area are being directed to use an alternate route while the Edgerton Road Bridge is unavailable.
The recommended detour uses Regional Road 57 or Cartwright East Quarter Line before connecting with McKee Road, which runs roughly parallel to Edgerton Road.
Motorists should allow additional travel time and remain alert for increased traffic on surrounding rural roads throughout the construction period.
The closure may be particularly important for commuters, agricultural traffic and residents who regularly use Edgerton Road as an east-west connection.
Essential services expected to continue
The township says the project is not expected to interrupt essential services.
Mail delivery, waste collection, school-bus service and emergency response are expected to continue despite the bridge closure.
Scugog has also identified emergency address numbers on either side of the bridge to help responders and residents distinguish access points during construction.
The emergency number east of the bridge is 4171, while the number west of the bridge is 4155.
Residents should ensure visitors, contractors and service providers are aware of the closure and which side of the bridge their destination is located on.
Why the bridge is being replaced
Scugog’s capital budget identifies the project as Bridge No. 11 (Cadmus) Replacement.
The municipality says the bridge had been operating under a weight restriction after an engineering load assessment in 2021. Without intervention, the structure was expected to continue deteriorating and eventually require complete closure.
The replacement is part of Scugog’s broader infrastructure strategy focused on maintaining roads, bridges and other municipal assets.
The township had been planning the project for several years. Earlier capital budgets identified environmental assessment and detailed design work in preparation for construction in 2026.
$1.75-million investment
Scugog’s approved 2026 capital budget allocates $1.75 million to the bridge replacement, funded through the Roads Reserve Fund.
That amount represents an increase from earlier planning estimates. A 2023 capital forecast had anticipated approximately $1.3 million, while later budgets raised the projected cost to $1.75 million.
Closure expected through December
The Edgerton Road Bridge is expected to remain closed until at least December 18, 2026.
Construction schedules can change because of weather, site conditions or unforeseen engineering issues, so residents should monitor Township of Scugog road notices for updates.
Until the bridge reopens, through traffic should continue using the designated detour while local residents access their properties from the appropriate side of the closure.
