Traffic will flow (slowly) again on Burlington Canal Lift Bridge

Motorists will once again be able to cross the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge but with some restrictions.

Construction on the bridge, which carries Eastport Drive traffic across Hamilton Harbour, has been ongoing for about a year and has been completely closed off to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians since January.

However, this Thursday, March 21 the bridge will reopen to traffic along one alternating lane that will be controlled by traffic signals.

“Finally,” said Burlington resident Rudy Mayo when told that traffic would flow once again.

Mayo has used online chat groups to complain about the prolonged construction on the bridge. He said the closure “has been a pain” for both Burlington and Hamilton commuters.

“It was especially bad when all that construction work was happening at the same time last year on the (Burlington) Skyway,” Mayo continued. “There was no easy way to get across the harbour and really brutal to deal with at rush hour.”

A federal government project, the construction work has involved replacing the bridge deck which has suffered from wear and tear over the years.

Burlington Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith said the partial re-opening should come as some relief for drivers who have had to put up with the lengthy construction period.

Galbraith said the one-lane will remain in place until the end of August when the project is expected to be completed.

“I realize that is a long time but one lane, at least, is better than no lanes,” said Galbraith.

Constructed in 1961, this 381-ft lift bridge is the sixth to span the canal since 1830. The lift allows vessels to enter and exit Hamilton Harbour into Lake Ontario.