Part of Credit River in Mississauga will close to paddlers, rowers for QEW work
Published July 20, 2022 at 12:04 pm
A section of the Credit River in south Mississauga will be partially closed and then fully closed off to canoers and kayakers for the remainder of the summer and into the fall as work continues on the new QEW bridge over the watercourse.
Officials with the QEW/Credit River Improvement Project issued notice of a Credit River Public Waterway Restriction earlier today (July 20), saying a partial closure of the river near the QEW bridge will take effect on Thursday (July 21) and remain in place until sometime in September.
The partial closure will be on the east side of the river as crews complete the first phase of work on the QEW Credit River twin bridge above.
The second phase of work will see a full closure of the river at the same location from September until Nov. 4. During that time, a portage route on the river’s west bank will be created.
Image shows where river traffic will be impacted during first phase of work. (Images: QEW/Credit River Improvement Project)
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“Construction activities include girder installation by crane and bridge deck work,” project officials said in an online update, adding the work will result in both minor and major water navigation impacts to rowers, paddlers and the public.
Minor noise impacts are also anticipated, work crews say.
As work continues on the massive project, drivers and area residents can also expect ongoing traffic disruptions to impact part of the QEW and other areas in the vicinity of Mississauga Rd. and the highway in the coming weeks and months.
Night and weekend work along the 2.6-km stretch of the QEW from Hurontario St. to Mississauga Rd. is expected to impact traffic for the duration of construction.
After years of planning, work on the new bridge continues to move forward.
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
A video taken May 24 and posted to YouTube shows progress made to date along the stretch of highway that crosses the Credit River.
Officials with EllisDon Corp. and Coco Paving Inc., who head up the building team awarded the $313.8-million contract in late 2020, say a stakeholder review and comment period ended last November.
Image shows where river traffic will be impacted during second phase of work, and alternate portage route.
That meant the massive project met requirements of an environmental assessment and was given the green light to move forward with construction.
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.
A completion date for the project has yet to be determined.
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