Highly anticipated $80M overpass in Barrie nearly open
After five years and nearly $80 million, a new overpass in Barrie's south end is about to open.
Motorists have been driving under the new Harvie Road overpass for months, and in mere days, the bridge will be open for drivers to use.
The first plans were drawn up for the $76 million overpass five years ago. After three years of construction, the city says there are only a few small things left to do before it can open.
"We need to work on some of the street lighting, we're trying to get those powered up, and we also have some safety handrails to finish up and do some of the last-minute traffic light adjustments," said Bala Araniyasundaran, the director of infrastructure for the City of Barrie.
The city hopes to get it open before Mon. June 28.
The City's population is expected to skyrocket over the next couple of decades, and the City says this new look will help make people's lives easier and less stressful.
"This is a vital crossing across the highway 400, so it really relieves the congestion that we have in the south end where Mapleview drive is the primary crossing," said Araniyasundaran.
"This just gives that ultimate route for the traffic and will be critical in relieving the congestion we have in the south end."
The City expects about 20,000 vehicles to use the overpass daily once it's open. That number is expected to double in the next 15 years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.