Residents will have to avoid driving a portion of Queen Street in Newmarket in the coming months as the town prepares to close the bridge between Main and Prospect streets for rehabilitation.
The municipality is preparing to start a planned rehabilitation project in March, resulting in the closure of the bridge to both vehicles and pedestrians starting in March and extending until December.
The municipality is asking the public to review the detour map and plan ahead for the upcoming closure.
“The Town of Newmarket is committed to maintaining safe and reliable infrastructure for our residents,” the municipality said in a news release. “As part of this commitment, we are moving forward with the rehabilitation of the Queen Street Bridge over the railway, ensuring a stronger and more resilient connection for pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.”
The town said bridge issues that required full rehabilitation were found during regular annual inspections. Work on the bridge began in 2023, with Bell Canada doing utility relocation work, but the bridge remained mostly accessible. Rapid deterioration also led to an unplanned, temporary closure of the bridge in April 2024 before it was reopened after further inspection in June.
The town said businesses and residences will remain accessible on Queen, and the nearby Tom Taylor Trail will also be open. Detour routes will be available through Main Street, Davis Drive, Prospect Street and Water Street.
Pre-construction work is underway this month, including the installation of traffic signage, a site trailer and environmental protection. Come early to mid March, the road closure will take place. The town said it will notify the public when an exact start date is determined based on securing a permit from Metrolinx.
Contractors will work from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with occasional weekend and night work as needed. Residents in the area may experience dust, noise and minor vibrations during construction, though the town said it and the contractor “will take measures to minimize these inconveniences.”
More information is available at heyNewmarket.ca/queenbridge.