Ontario bridge about to be demolished and given futuristic replacement

A pedestrian bridge carrying foot traffic over a busy GO Transit corridor will soon be demolished to make way for a new replacement.

Metrolinx has announced that demolition of the Drury Lane Pedestrian Bridge, a foot crossing spanning GO's Lakeshore West line in Burlington, as part of plans to replace the existing infrastructure with a modern new bridge.

The existing pedestrian bridge at this location was constructed in 1972, but after a half-century of service, Metrolinx says that the structure is "nearing the end of its service life," and is due for a replacement.

Google Street View

The regional transit agency published a construction notice in early January, notifying locals that the existing bridge will be permanently closed in March to allow for demolition and construction of the new crossing.

Metrolinx will begin staging activities for the demolition and replacement in mid-January, setting up adjacent to the crossing in preparation for the heavy construction to follow. This pre-construction phase will involve crews setting up the site with storage containers and facilities, adding fencing around the work site, and installing a small subdrainage connection.

Pedestrians using the bridge can get their last up-close encounter with the half-century-old structure in the weeks leading up to March 7, 2025, when the bridge will be closed and demolition will commence.

During this time, area residents can expect prep work to include clearing and grubbing in the rail corridor, excavation, grading, and the installation of temporary light poles.

The actual bridge structure is scheduled to come down between March 7 and March 10, in a process that will involve cutting and grinding the bridge into smaller pieces, which will then be lifted out of their position with the help of a crane.

In addition to what should prove to be quite a racket for locals, excavators and jackhammers will be used to chip and cut away the existing bridge's foundations before crews can begin drilling caissons to form the foundation for the replacement structure.

With a higher clearance over the tracks than the existing bridge, the new crossing will allow for future electrification of the rail corridor, and has been designed as AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) compliant.

Metrolinx has notified locals that during the demolition, a detour will be in place allowing pedestrians to cross the rail corridor.

Area residents were consulted throughout the bridge replacement's planning, though locals can also learn more about the project at an upcoming meeting that will be hosted by Metrolinx in February.