By DENIS GIBBONS
July 7th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister and Burlington still was a town of about 47,000 the last time the Burlington Canal Bridge was replaced 60 years ago.
Now the federal government is footing the bill of more than $21 million for another replacement, which will also widen sections of the sidewalk to allow more space for pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely and to improve traffic flow.
Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, made the announcement during a press conference at the canal on Thursday.
Burlington MP Karina Gould said the upgrades will significantly improve the safety for people who use the bridge.
Ship entering Hamilton harbour. Skyway bridge is in the background..“
Construction is anticipated to begin in the winter of 2023, during the bridge’s annual winter shutdown for maintenance and repairs, in order to minimize disruptions. The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2024.
The bridge deck itself will take approximately three months to complete. The waterway is closed during the winter to ships and the bridge does not rise, making it an ideal time to undertake this project.
On average, approximately 25,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
Karina Gould (right) chats with Filomena Tassi and Hamilton Mountain Liberal MO, Lisa Hepfner, with the lift bridge in the background.
During peak seasons, nearly 3,000 pedestrians and cyclists travel along the Beachway in Burlington daily, many of them using the bridge.
The first lift bridge was erected in 1830 well before Confederation and there have been six since then.
At one time there also was a railway lift bridge, which allowed trains to service frozen fruit plants in Hamilton and Stoney Creek.
The photo in the article is of the Skyway Bridge, not the Lift Bridge!
Editor’s note: You are absolutely right – we have corrected the cut line.