Remember when an excavator hit the Highway 400 bridge over Innisfil Beach Road (IBR) a few weeks ago?
Police finally got their suspect, apparently.
South Simcoe Police Service said in a social-media post Feb. 20 that it has charged a 65-year-old man from Innisfil with three offences under the Highway Traffic Act — fail to remain, fail to report damage to property on highway, and over-height vehicle — in connection with the crash.
The section of IBR and affected ramps reopened on Feb. 3, after being closed Jan. 24 for what the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) deemed “emergency roadwork” when the excavator struck and damaged the bridge. The vehicle did not remain on scene.
The bridge was inspected by structural engineers following the incident; they found localized concrete damage to three girders.
This area already has a lengthy recent history of construction work, as part of the ministry's plan to replace the 400 bridges at IBR and the nearby Barrie Collingwood Railway corridor, and reconstruct both the IBR interchange and the existing six-lane 400 mainline. Drainage and illumination improvements are also planned for the area.
Construction on the overall project began in April 2022, though planning for it has stretched back decades.
This entire reconstruction project — tendered at $83.2 million — is scheduled for a 2025 completion, MTO says.
Travellers can visit 511on.ca or find the @511Ontario social-media accounts for updates on local roadwork and its implications on traffic.
More details on the overall reconstruction project can be found at innisfil.ca.
