Notice of Lane Reductions on Rutherford Road

What type of work is taking place at the bridge?
York Region is replacing and expanding the bridge to align with the newly widened roadway and increase capacity.
Construction includes:

• Installing detour tracks under the bridge to shift train traffic and create safe work zones
• Constructing pier extensions (bridge supports)
• Working at street level, shifting traffic so crews can work on the north side of the bridge
• Removing the existing bridge deck and old girders
• Installing new girders and replacing the bridge deck - including pouring concrete, waterproofing, paving, installing multi-use paths and railings
• Flipping traffic lanes to the completed side of the bridge and working on the south side

Why is bridge widening necessary? 
As York Region’s population and businesses grow, public roads are accommodating more travellers, goods and services. The Region is widening and improving Rutherford Road in the City of Vaughan to address the needs of residents, businesses and the travelling public.
Replacing and widening of the CN Rail bridge will create a continuous six lane roadway from Highway 400 to Bathurst Street. Leaving the bridge in the current four lane width would result in a bottleneck on this important corridor.

How long will lane restrictions be in place?
Approximately one year, from late Fall 2025 to Fall 2026.

What can drivers expect?

• Rutherford Road is reduced to one lane in each direction between Creditstone Road/Melville Avenue and Greenock Drive to accommodate work on the CN Rail bridge
• While lanes are fully open on either side of the bridge, traffic will slow down as it passes through the section with reduced lanes
• Access will be maintained for all driveways/entrances
• Signs will guide travellers

Why was the work at the CN bridge delayed?
Widening and replacing the bridge over the CN Rail yard, while maintaining train operations at one of the largest and busiest rail yards in North America, has been extremely challenging. The trains operate around the clock and any work in the rail corridor requires access from CN Rail. CN has a responsibility to maintain yard operations, which has made accommodating the Region’s bridge construction difficult. CN Rail is also working in the same corridor to add a track to further expand its rail operations. 

Replacing and widening the bridge over the CN Rail tracks requires extensive work underground and at track level, followed by the bridge deck and roadway above the tracks. Restrictions required by CN Rail prohibit work near active rail tracks for the structural integrity of rail infrastructure and safety. This has significantly impacted progress that was originally planned. While most of the work underground and at track level is complete, this was only accomplished by moving railway tracks to create dedicated work zones, so work could proceed. 

Why is bridge work elsewhere done faster but it is taking much longer at the CN bridge?
Unlike typical bridge projects, this one involves accommodating around-the-clock train operations. CN Rail’s operational constraints and the need for specialized construction sequencing make this project more complex and time-consuming than others.

To mitigate restrictions implemented by CN Rail, prohibiting work near active rail tracks, a detour track was built, creating a dedicated work zone that allowed work to proceed and two large pier extensions on the west side were completed. To complete the pier extensions on the east side, a new rail track had to be installed, requiring slope stabilization, watermain protection and retaining wall construction. 

The time needed to investigate and revise the designs, to add and relocate the new rail track and constructing this solution have delayed completion of the bridge. 

The Region has successfully completed a number of bridge widenings over rail tracks, including CN Rail tracks, most recently on Keele Street, north of Highway 407. The Region anticipated this location, given its proximity to the Macmillan Yard, would be more difficult and had planned for some reduced productivity. Unfortunately, changes to restrictions placed on the Region’s contractor once work had started and changes to CN’s business operations, has made work much more challenging than anticipated.

Why do the lanes need to be reduced to one lane in each direction at the CN bridge?
Due to the nature of the bridge work, including structural modifications and safety risks, the work zone must remain closed at all times
To replace and widen the existing bridge, the existing bridge deck and structure below will be completely removed and replaced. Currently, there are two lanes in each direction on the existing bridge. To remove and replace the bridge in two stages, half of the bridge will need to be closed at a time and only one lane open in either direction on Rutherford Road, between Creditstone Road/Melville Avenue and Greenock Drive continuously, while bridge construction is underway.  As the roadway and the deck will be completely removed, lanes cannot be re-opened to traffic until the bridge deck has been reinstated at the end of each stage.

Why don’t I see crews working? 
You may not see workers because work is happening below the bridge, away from driver line of sight, work may be paused due to inclement weather and wet conditions, or work may be happening at another location due to contractor scheduling and sequencing of activities, for example waiting for concrete to cure.

How can I stay informed? 

• Visit york.ca/RutherfordRoad for project information and to sign up for e-news
• Use traffic and navigation tools to plan your commute. York Region provides real-time traffic and road information in open data, used by many apps
• Follow us @YorkRegionGovt on social