The Dufferin Street Bridge closed to traffic today at 9 a.m. and will be demolished by the end of the year.
The bridge, which crosses the GO rails south of Springhurst, had been scheduled for replacement in 2016. City staff decided on recent inspection that the bridge was in such a poor state that it needed to be closed immediately--and replaced.
The bridge will be open to pedestrians until further notice. Updates will be posed on the
city's website.
According to Clive Scott, Councillor Gord Perks' constituency assistant, the councillor has met with the city’s Technical Services and transportation staff and was told, "The vehicular crossing should be fully re-established within 18 months with temporary bridges. Pedestrian and cycling access will remain available. A construction schedule is currently being developed to minimize the disruption to pedestrian traffic."
The current plan is to construct a temporary bridge, open to cars, that will serve until the new, permanent bridge is finished.
According to Scott, city transportation staff "are currently developing a plan that will adjust traffic signals and signage to minimize the impact of this closure on both residential communities and businesses. Transportation staff will monitor traffic flows and continue to make adjustments as necessary."
Neither the councillor's office nor the city staff would release what specifically precipitated the early closure.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Clive Scott
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