Highway 40 overpass near Confederation Line. May 28, 2019. (BlackburnNews file photo)Highway 40 overpass near Confederation Line. May 28, 2019. (BlackburnNews file photo)
Sarnia

Highway 40 CN overpass to be replaced

There are still no plans to widen busy Highway 40 in Sarnia but the province is proceeding with the replacement of the CN Rail overpass just south of Confederation Street.

Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Liane Fisher-Bloxam said the bridge is at the end of its life span.

"This bridge just needs to be replaced because of its age and condition," said Fisher-Bloxam. "It was first built in 1965 and also rehabilitated in 1986, but it's time for a new bridge."

The ministry has started a detailed design and Class Environmental Assessment Study, and the public is invited to provide comments by June 24.

Hwy. 40 CN Overpass Study Notice (Submitted by MTO) Hwy. 40 CN Overpass Study Notice (Submitted by MTO)

Fisher-Bloxam said construction is scheduled for 2021, and while projects usually start in the spring, there is no firm start date yet.

"The design process and study will also include consulting with CN Rail because it's over the tracks. This design process will help us determine what the construction staging looks like and how long that will take and what kind of traffic impact it might have," she said.

Fisher-Bloxam said it's a stand-alone project and there are no plans currently for the long talked about four-laning of Highway 40 between Highway 402 and Churchill Line.

"But it is compatible with any future widening, bridges last decades and if we get to the point down the road where we're going to widen the highway, this bridge will be able to handle that," Fisher-Bloxam said.

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