Closure: Credit River will partially close to water lovers for QEW work in Mississauga
Published June 6, 2023 at 10:08 am
Canoers, kayakers and others can expect a section of the Credit River in south Mississauga to be partially closed starting this week and continuing well into the fall as work continues on the new QEW bridge over the watercourse.
Officials with the QEW/Credit River Improvement Project overseeing the major bridge rehabilitation work said in an online update today (June 6) that those who frequent the section of the river that passes under the highway can expect partial closures of the east and west sides through Nov. 27.
However, project leaders add, “a waterway passage through the construction zone will always be maintained in the river.”
Officially termed a Public Waterway Restriction, the partial closure will allow for overhead work on the new twin bridge to be completed, project leaders say.
They add that construction activities, which include bridge deck work, will at times cause “minor and major water navigation impacts to rowers, paddlers and the public.”
A section of the Credit River in the same area was also closed down temporarily to paddlers and rowers last summer and into the fall as the bridge work continued.
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Image shows area of the Credit River that will be impacted.
Meanwhile, above the river, two highway lanes, an off-ramp and a busy section of road near the QEW in Mississauga will close to traffic for several nights/overnights this coming weekend (June 9-11) and next week as crews continue work on the highway bridge over the Credit River.
After years of planning, work on the new bridge continues to move forward. No firm completion date has been announced.
The huge project consists of:
- construction of a new twin bridge north of the existing Credit River bridge
- rehabilitation of the existing Credit River bridge
- widening/improving of the QEW
- replacing the Mississauga Rd. overpass
- improving/reconfiguring the Mississauga Rd. interchange
- constructing active transportation (pedestrian, bicycles, etc.) crossings (and associated trail infrastructure) at the QEW and over the Credit River
EllisDon Corp. and Coco Paving Inc. head up the building team that was awarded the $313.8-million contract in late 2020.
The project, first studied by Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) in 2013, initially called for demolition of the existing 840-ft.-long bridge, which was built in 1934 and expanded in 1960.
However, public outcry and strong opposition from Mississauga City council in late 2019 changed the provincial government’s mind, and it was decided the existing span, located just east of Mississauga Rd., would be rehabilitated instead.
The Province said that based on the feedback it received in the aftermath of the demolition announcement, it made the decision to preserve the original heritage structure of the bridge, which is owned by the Ontario government.
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