Buckle Up: Multi-year Dunlop Street bridge replacement project set to begin

The four-year Dunlop Street bridge replacement project ramps up in Barrie.

Motorists in Barrie will have to buckle up for yet another major road project that will prove to be years of pain for long-term gain through a busy, and often congested area of the city.

The Ontario government’s plan to upgrade Highway 400 to 10 lanes is about to bring more major changes to the city, with the Dunlop Street bridge replacement. The project is part of the province’s nearly $30 billion plan to build, expand and repair highways, roads and bridges.

“Replacing the Dunlop Street bridge is a crucial step in widening Highway 400 near Barrie, which will reduce gridlock and save time for the more than 100,000 drivers who rely on this stretch of highway every day,” stated Ric Bresee, parliamentary assistant to the minister of transportation.

Crews have already started work on the Dunlop Street interchange, with activity focused on the new northbound Highway 400 on-ramp.

The ongoing construction will result in lane closures starting July 14 and running through to August 1, the City stated.

Mayor Alex Nuttall said the project would ultimately help reduce congestion along Dunlop Street and “make it easier for residents to get around the city.”

The Dunlop Street bridge revamp is the final phase of the ministry’s replacement of three main bridges along Highway 400 through Barrie.

“This bridge [Dunlop], along with the Anne Street bridge, the Sunnidale bridge and the bridges at Lines 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Oro-Medonte are all part of the plan to repair, replace and expand bridges and roadways across the province to help support Ontario’s economy,” said Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey.

Crews will also work to widen the Dunlop Street bridge to six lanes between the Highway 400 interchange ramps, as per the city’s request.

No specific timeline was provided for when demolition of the bridge would begin. The entire project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2028.