The Oshawa Simcoe bridge replacement has moved into its foundation stage after crews completed demolition of the old structure over the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway corridor.
Metrolinx told Durham Post that crews are now carrying out piling work for the new bridge. The construction milestone advances one of the first major pieces of infrastructure needed for the planned Bowmanville GO Extension.
Simcoe Street remains closed between Avenue Street and Albany Street while the bridge is rebuilt. The full replacement is expected to take approximately two years, with local access maintained on either side of the work area.
Foundation work follows bridge demolition
Piling creates deep supports that transfer the weight of the future bridge into stable ground. The work follows demolition and removal of the century-old crossing, along with utility and site preparation activities included in the project.
Metrolinx has said the replacement bridge will be higher, longer and realigned to meet current engineering standards. The expanded structure will also make room for an additional GO train track through the corridor.
The construction forms part of the first phase being delivered by Bowmanville Construction Partners. That package also includes work at Durham College Oshawa GO Station, changes to the VIA building, bridge reconstruction and modifications elsewhere along the route, and utility relocations.
Other bridge work tied to the extension includes widening the Green Road bridge in Bowmanville and changes to the Farewell Street pedestrian bridge. Future phases are expected to add new tracks, signals and stations, as well as a rail bridge over Highway 401 and improvements at road crossings.
Part of the Bowmanville GO Extension
The Bowmanville project will extend the Lakeshore East line 18.7 kilometres beyond Durham College Oshawa GO Station. Planned stops include Thornton’s Corners East, central Oshawa, Courtice and Bowmanville.
Once the full extension is operating, Metrolinx projects train service every 30 minutes during peak periods, hourly during off-peak periods and every two hours on weekends. The agency expects the expanded line to support nearly 17,000 daily trips and 4.9 million annual boardings by 2041.
For drivers and pedestrians near the Oshawa Simcoe bridge site, the existing detour arrangements remain important. Metrolinx previously identified the Michael Starr Trail as the pedestrian detour and said access would be maintained at Olive Street. Traffic conditions around the closure continue to be monitored by Metrolinx, Durham Region and the contractor.
The move from demolition to foundation piling is a material construction update, but it does not change the previously announced two-year closure window. Residents should continue to follow posted detours and watch for project notices as work progresses.
Construction schedules can change because of weather, site conditions or coordination with railway operations. Metrolinx has not announced a revised reopening date with this foundation update, and the broader Bowmanville extension will require several additional phases after the new road bridge is in place.
Sources: Durham Post; Metrolinx; Metrolinx project update.
