Ontario Street Grand Bend Bridge Construction

After a summer break in construction activities, crews are eager to get back to work on the Ontario Street Grand Bend Bridge project. Phase 1 of the project was completed in June 2025. Phase 2 will begin in September and involve the demolition of half of the bridge deck and construction of a new, wider bridge deck.

As we get closer to the Phase 2 kick off, here are some important dates:

• Crews return to site: beginning the week of August 25, 2025, crews will be remobilizing to the site to prepare for Phase 2
• Reduced traffic lanes: Beginning September 2, 2025, there will be reduced traffic lanes on the bridge. One southbound lane and one northbound lane will remain open (similar to the traffic layout in Phase 1)
• River closure: Beginning September 15, 2025, the river under the bridge will be closed to all boat traffic. This closure is expected to last until October 3, 2025, and is required for the placement of a barge and equipment required for bridge demolition.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding during this project.

The river will be closed at the Grand Bend Bridge from September 15 to October 3, 2025, to allow for the placement of a barge and equipment required for bridge demolition.

We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding during this project. More updates about the next phase will be shared in the coming weeks.

Good news! Crews are ahead of schedule for the Grand Bend Bridge project and four lanes of traffic have been reopened in time for the May long weekend.

We want to thank everyone for their patience as crews work through this first phase of the project. While all four lanes have been reopened, crews will still be on site over the next few weeks to finalize work as part of phase one.

Please continue to drive with caution and obey related construction signage. There may be temporary lane reductions over the next few weeks to accommodate this work before the project pauses for the summer. Phase two is set to begin in September.

We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding during this project.

Work continues on the Ontario Street Bridge Widening Project. Work on the southeast corner retaining wall is completed for this stage of construction. Crews will continue to backfill for road and sidewalk restoration in the coming weeks.

Progress is on schedule to reopen four lanes of traffic in June for the planned pause in construction during the summer months.

We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding during this project.

During the past few weeks, crews have been stripping forms on the newly poured abutments and preparing for backfilling. Currently, and in the coming weeks, crews will be placing sheet piling and constructing a retaining wall on the southeast portion of the bridge.

We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding during this project.

Are we finally on the home stretch of winter? The Ontario Street Bridge Project Team certainly hope so! Despite the weather, progress continues to be made.

Crews have poured the south abutment and formed up the north abutment. In the coming weeks, crews will be pouring concrete for the north abutment, stripping forms, placing rip rap, and installing sheet piles.

As always, the project team thanks the entire community for their ongoing cooperation and patience during this project. Please exercise extreme caution in the project area and be mindful of pedestrians using the crosswalks at the main intersection.

The Ontario Street Bridge project continues to make progress through the winter season. Crews are continuing to prepare forms and place rebar in preparation for future concrete pours in the coming weeks.

As always, the project team thanks the entire community for their ongoing cooperation and patience during this project.

Despite the cold weather we have experienced in January, work continues on the Ontario Street Bridge Project. Crews have been busy removing forms, backfilling, and compacting around the new abutments.

Work in the coming weeks will include placing forms and rebar for the next concrete pours on the new abutments. The project team wishes to thank the public for their ongoing cooperation and patience during the project.

In the past two weeks, the piles for the new foundations have been completed. Crews have been placing forms and rebar for the new abutments. Concrete for the new abutments will be poured once the forms and rebar are completed this week.

Construction crews will be away for a holiday break starting December 20 and will be returning to the site on January 6, 2025. Please continue to obey all signage in the construction zone and have a safe holiday season.

The project team looks forward to a successful 2025, and as always, thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding during this project.

The nice weather crews enjoyed throughout the fall has ended abruptly with the arrival of snow to Grand Bend. Despite the changing weather, crews will continue to work on completing this important project.

In the past two weeks, crews have been working on driving piles for the new abutments. The schedule for the next two weeks includes finishing the piles and forming, and placing rebar for the new abutments.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding during this project

Construction crews are working hard and progress continues to be made on the Ontario Street Grand Bend Bridge Project. Over the past two weeks, preparation works have been largely completed on the southeast portion of the bridge. Over the coming weeks, crews will be setting and driving piles to support the new widened portion of the bridge.

The project team wants to thank the public for their ongoing patience and understanding as the project continues. As colder weather approaches, please exercise caution when travelling through the construction zone. For your own safety, and the safety of the workers, please obey all signage, fencing, and barriers.

A construction site can be a dangerous place if you are unfamiliar with the activities taking place. Please let the workers focus on their jobs and stay out of the construction areas.

We recognize that this is one of our larger projects and can come with traffic delays while crews are working. In our ongoing efforts to keep the public informed about this project, including any traffic delays, we have launched a live cam for the Grand Bend Bridge project.

Since the previous update, further preparation work and demolition of existing bridge infrastructure has occurred. In the coming weeks, crews will continue demolition of the southeast and northeast areas of the existing bridge to allow for construction of the bridge widening.

Crews will also begin driving piles to support the new structure.

As always, thank you for your ongoing cooperation during this project.

Access works have been completed to allow crews and equipment to move under the bridge to work. Removals of existing infrastructure are ongoing and roadway protection measures are in progress to allow the start of excavation work on the south side of the bridge.

In the coming weeks, crews will continue removals and protection measures to allow for excavation on the north side of the bridge.

The project team wishes to thank the public for their ongoing patience with vehicle and pedestrian traffic control measures. Please continue to exercise caution in construction zones.

Since our last update, Utility companies have completed their work to allow for bridge widening work to take place. Crews have also been completing the necessary site preparation work that will provide access the bridge structure and surrounding area.

Over the coming weeks, crews will continue preparation work and doing removals of existing infrastructure before beginning the bridge widening and rehabilitation work.

Traffic control measures are in place for this work and will continue to be in place throughout the fall season. Please obey signage and drive safely.

We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding as we work through this important project.

Generally, bridges are built for cars and people to travel safely across waterways. However, they also carry important utilities. The Ontario Street bridge carries several different utilities across the river to serve homes and businesses in Grand Bend, including hydro, natural gas, drinking water, sewage, and communications (cable and internet).

Over the last two weeks, different utility crews have been on site completing important relocation work to allow for bridge work to take place. Next week, this utility work will continue in addition to some site preparation work before equipment and workers begin on the bridge structure.

Lane closures will be in effect during this work and the Municipality reminds the public to drive cautiously and obey all signage.

Please note that the parking area on Municipal Drive (at the former Grand Bend Municipal Office and the former BMO) will be closed to the public as of September 23, 2024. This area will be fenced and used as a staging area during the bridge construction project.

The Municipality of Lambton Shores is set to begin the Ontario Street Grand Bend Bridge construction project on September 3, 2024. This first phase of the project has an anticipated completion date of June 15, 2024.

View the Public Notice