A major piece of an essential construction project in Barrie was put in place this week. Overnight tonight, crews are expected to install the final girders to the Harvie Road/Big Bay Point Road/Highway 400 crossing currently under construction.
Highway 400 has been closed in both directions between Mapleview Drive and Essa Road for intervals of 15 minutes between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. throughout the week as 26 girders were installed – each being two metres high and about 45 metres long, 13 of them spanning the northbound lanes and 13 across the southbound lanes.
Over the last five months, the following work has taken place on this project:
- ​​preparation of concrete forms and placement of structural steel for the bridge abutments​
- delivery of fill material for the Harvie Road and Big Bay Point Road embankments
- installation of storm sewers and watermains on Harvie Road west of Highway 400​
When completed, it is expected the new infrastructure will reduce existing traffic congestion and support growth in Barrie’s south end by connecting Harvie Road to Big Bay​ Point Road across Highway 400. The crossing is expected to open in fall 2020.