
New Anne Street bridge in Barrie to open to traffic this week
Following months of anticipation, numerous delays, and detours, the Anne Street bridge in Barrie is finally set to open this week.
According to the City of Barrie, the Ministry of Transportation confirmed the bridge over Highway 400 will be open to traffic on Friday.
The new bridge has been under construction since the spring of 2021, significantly impacting traffic through the area.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local news updates sent to your inbox
The ministry noted several challenges, including adverse weather conditions, as factors in prolonging the construction timeline, which was initially slated for completion by the end of 2022.
Business owners in the area are eager for the busy bridge to open.
"Bring business back to normal," said Rita Fuda, The Italian Bakery owner in an interview with CTV News last week.
The bridge replacement's enhanced features include wider sidewalks, a more expansive bridge deck to improve traffic flow, and improvements to the Anne/Edgehill Streets and Anne/Donald Streets intersections.
Starting Monday, the City will focus on an area of Sunnidale Road. The road from Letitia Street to Wellington Street is scheduled to close for crews to begin installing new transmission water mains in the area.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Liberal MP sides with Conservatives on failed motion to 'repeal all carbon taxes'
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's latest unsuccessful attempt to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to repeal his carbon pricing system has secured the support of one Liberal MP.
Toronto Blue Jays eliminated from playoffs
The Toronto Blue Jays have been eliminated from the MLB playoffs, losing in the American League wild-card round for the second consecutive year.
Too much Taylor? Travis Kelce says NFL TV coverage is 'overdoing it' with Swift during games
Maybe there's too much Taylor, not enough Travis. Travis Kelce agreed Wednesday with the idea that NFL TV coverage has been "overdoing it" with the amount of times Taylor Swift has been on screen while attending his Kansas City Chiefs' games the last two weeks.
Here's how much it costs to raise children in Canada, according to new statistics
A new report from Statistics Canada estimates how much parents will spend on children over the course of their lifetime.
Kinew says federal role in landfill search wasn't part of conversation with PM
Manitoba premier-designate Wab Kinew insists he will keep a commitment to search the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of two First Nations women who are suspected to have been victims of an alleged serial killer.
Canada-India tensions: How we got here and what's at stake
In the past month, Canada has accused the Indian government of being involved in a murder on Canadian soil and India has ordered Canada to remove most of its diplomats from the country. Here's how the two countries got to this point, as well as what's at stake if tensions don't ease.
Health-care workers picket outside U.S. hospitals in multiple states, kicking off 3-day strike
Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers took to picket lines in multiple states on Wednesday, launching a massive strike that the company warned could cause delays at its hospitals and clinics that serve nearly 13 million Americans.
Premier Wab Kinew: From rapper to reporter to Manitoba's top political office
Rap artist. Journalist. Economics student. Premier. Wab Kinew's path as a young man, including several brushes with the law and some convictions, did not appear a likely path to becoming the first First Nations premier of a province.
Rideau Hall apologizes for honouring Nazi veteran, Trudeau 'carefully' considering unsealing records
Rideau Hall is apologizing for the historic appointment of a man who fought for a Nazi unit in the Second World War, to the Order of Canada. Now, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon's office says it is examining two subsequent medals granted in the last two decades. This, as Jewish advocacy groups say the recent and resurfacing recognitions further make their case for the need to unseal Holocaust-related records.