Bridge building continues in Barrie, as work to span Highway 400 and connect Harvie Road on the west side with Big Bay Point Road on the east proceeds to its anticipated opening this fall.
This bridge is required in part to reduce existing traffic congestion and support growth in Barrie’s south end, the City says of the $45 million project.
The project dates back to 2015 with the hiring of a dedicated project manager and a Request for Pre-Qualification document to shortlist consultants qualified to bid on the design assignment. Phases three and four of a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment were also completed that year. Road closures on either side of the highway related to the bridge work were reopened in the fall of 2019.
The Preferred Design Alternative for the Harvie Road / Big Bay Point Road crossing includes:
- Harvie Road / Big Bay Point Road crossing over Highway 400
- Removal of the railway crossing on Big Bay Point Road between Bayview Drive and Fairview Drive
- Buffered bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides
- Five lanes in the interim and ultimate seven lanes between Bryne Drive and Bayview Drive
- Protection of land for a potential future Highway interchange
- Harvie Road ROW Expansion: Replacement of the existing sanitary sewer, replacement of sanitary service laterals from the new sewer to property line, replacement of the existing watermain; replacement of water services from the new watermain to property line.
The project included reconstruction of a portion of Fairview Road. The construction includes a new Fairview Road/Big Bay Point Road signalized intersection which will be 11 metres above existing ground to accommodate the grading required for the bridge crossing over Highway 400. Fairview Road will transition from the existing two lanes adjacent to the OnRoute Service Centre to four lanes approaching the Fairview Road/Big Bay Point Road signalized intersection and include a sidewalk on the west side of the roadway.
Big Bay Point Road (east side of Highway 400) and Harvie Road (west side of Highway 400) will have two lanes in each direction with a centre turning lane, bike lanes and sidewalks. The project also includes adding lanes to the Bayview Drive/Big Bay Point Road intersection.
Other works include new culverts to the relocated Whiskey Creek, new storm sewers, watermains and sanitary infrastructure. All roads are anticipated be open to traffic with a new crossing of Highway 400 by the fall of 2020.