Boaters cautioned as scaffolding under Burlington Canal Lift Bridge lowers it by 18 inches

The Hamilton Police are trying to caution casual boaters that they have a lot less head-room when passing under the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge, which connects Burlington to the edge of Hamilton.

Due to scaffolding under the bridge, which was closed from December to March for maintenance work, there is 18 less inches of room for boaters going under the bridge on Eastport Drive.

The work to the bridge, being funded by the federal government, is meant to add another 30 years to the lifespan of the structure by replacing the lift span deck, rehabilitating the approach spans and widening the sidewalk.

While the bridge is presently open, work will resume in December 2023 and continue for as long as a year after that.

The 116-metres-long vertical lift bridge is located to the north of the Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway. It turned 60 years old in 2022 and is the sixth bridge to span the Burlington Canal since 1830.

Safety message from the Hamilton Police Marine Unit.#SafeBoatingAwarenessWeek pic.twitter.com/UOuEx4RMFt

— Hamilton Police (@HamiltonPolice) May 23, 2023