MTO plans four lanes over Highway 400 in Barrie

Ontario Construction News staff writer

A bridge project is expected to begin in 2024 or 2025, expanding Dunlop Street in Barrie to four lanes over Highway 400.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) says the approved solution includes widening of Dunlop Street to four lanes from west of Cedar Pointe Drive to Anne Street as recommended in the MTO’s approved Transportation Environmental Study Report.

Reports detail that MTO started looking into the redevelopment of the area in 2004 and had almost completed its study in 2017 when the provincial government came out with potential growth numbers, which would drastically affect Barrie.

The plan was approved by Barrie City Council last week, and Barrietoday.ca reports it is a step back from the original vision to widen Dunlop Street to six lanes over the highway and transportation officials say it will alleviate congestion in the area and eliminate traffic backing up into live lanes on the highway during peak times of day. 

MTO has not announced a construction date, however, city staff expect construction will begin in 2024 or 2025 and continue for two years. The report does not include the cost for the project. 

The Highway 400 bridge, which is owned and maintained by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), is about 65 years old and is approaching to end of its useful lifespan.

Once the city’s environmental assessment has been completed and budgets are approved, the city’s infrastructure department will implement a “preferred design solution” as part of the MTO’s new interchange project at Dunlop Street.