Rutherford Road

• Widened Rutherford Road eastbound from east of the CN Rail bridge to Keele Street
• Updated two intersections with designated left turn lanes, including Rutherford Road at Melville Avenue and at Greenock Drive
• Replaced a six-metre box culvert between Tesma Way and Greenock Drive
• Installed new cycle tracks and sidewalks
• Started work at the Canadian National (CN) Rail bridge including stabilizing the slope and installing pier extension

Expanding the bridge over the CN Rail tracks requires extensive work underground, at track level, and on the bridge and roadway above the tracks. 

Completing this work, while maintaining operations at one of the largest and busiest rail yards in North America, has been extremely challenging. Trains operate around the clock. Any work in the area requires coordination with CN Rail and their permission. Restrictions implemented by CN Rail, prohibiting work near active rail tracks, have not allowed work to progress as originally planned.

To mitigate these restrictions, 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 must 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 the time spent constructing this solution have delayed completion of the bridge. 

The east pier extensions are expected to be complete in late 2025. Once complete, work will begin to demolish and remove the old bridge and roadway, then replace it with a new, wider structure. 

We recognize the impact of this delay and continue to work closely with CN Rail to ensure progress.

What will the road look like when it is complete?

What are the benefits of this project?
At the end of this project, citizens can look forward to:

• Reduced traffic congestion with two extra lanes of roadway
• A safer commute with rehabilitated roads, upgraded traffic signals that meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities (AODA) standards, and enhanced roadway illumination
• A connected transportation network for cyclists
• A new sidewalk on the north side of Rutherford Road, between Jane Street and Springside Road
• Upgraded traffic signals and enhanced roadway illumination
• Travellers will also get rehabilitated roads, ensuring a safer commute for all road users

What is a culvert?
A culvert is a tunnel or crossing located under a road. It can be built to transport either water, people or animals.

Why do the culverts need to be replaced?
York Region conducts routine inspections of its infrastructure. Through ongoing inspections, it has been determined two culverts need to be replaced and two need to be extended to support the widened roadway and to ensure safe travel on Rutherford Road.

Are there any lane closures or reductions associated with this project?

• Four lanes are being maintained throughout the construction period during peak travel hours. To achieve this, lane width reductions will be in place and speed has been temporarily reduced in the construction area
• Lane reductions may be required to facilitate CN Railway bridge construction, intersection, and culvert work between 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
• Traffic lanes will be shifting throughout construction during off-peak and peak hours
• Extended lane closure hours may be required to construct portions of the roadway safely
• York Region will provide advance notice whenever possible

Will there be any night work?
Night work may be required between 9 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. to facilitate paving the roadway and pavement markings, storm sewer and culvert road crossing work, and CN Railway bridge construction.

Will there be any weekend work?
Work may be required on the weekends to expedite the construction work.

Will there be any work on statutory holidays?
Work may be required on statutory holidays to expedite the construction work.

Can pedestrians and cyclists still use the road?
Pedestrian access will be maintained on a minimum of one side of the road at all times. The existing sidewalk is discontinuous on Rutherford Road between Creditstone Road and Jane Street.

There are no existing bicycle facilities on Rutherford Road. Cyclists are to use the roadway in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act and/or boulevard(s) in accordance with Local By-laws.

To submit a comment, question or for more information, please contact @email or call 1-877-464-9675.

Why are these improvements taking place?
York Regional Council continues to invest and make transportation improvements a priority, outlined in the 10-year Roads and Transit Capital Construction Program

• Roads are identified for improvements for a variety of reasons including enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists, managing assets in a state of good repair and improving traffic flow to accommodate population growth by adding new lanes or creating new roads
• To support the growing communities in Vaughan, construction is planned for over 20 locations in the next five years. These projects will include:
  • Road reconstruction and widening
  • New transit terminal connecting to the new Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
  • Intersection upgrades and improvements to enhance traffic operations
  • Pavement repair, preservation and rehabilitation
• As York Region’s population and businesses grow, public roads are accommodating more travellers, goods and services
  • Vaughan’s population is forecasted to grow from 316,000 in 2016 to 497,400 by 2041
  • Vaughan’s employment is forecasted to grow from 209,200 jobs in 2016 to 321,500 jobs by 2041
  • The travel growth in the area (daily trips to and from Vaughan) is forecasted to grow from 895,400 in 2016 to 1,315,700 by 2041, an 47% increase
• By expanding or upgrading infrastructure, we are ensuring we meet the needs of our growing communities now, rather than waiting until we run out of capacity

Why is this construction happening all at once?
York Region has a 10-year Roads and Transit Capital Construction Program which outlines infrastructure projects across the Region. Capital projects are undertaken to improve the community for all York Region residents

• While serving growth remains important, capital spending also focuses on asset management to extend the life of assets, such as roads and bridges, and reduce total costs over their life cycle. Over the next 10 years, $1.4 billion will go to rehabilitating and replacing existing assets. These investments help ensure that assets are in a state of good repair for current and future residents
• The Region and the City of Vaughan are investing in transportation improvements over the next five years to support the record growth in the area, the construction being completed by our partners and to maintain our roads in a state of good repair
  • Infrastructure being constructed by the Region and our partners includes:
    • Road widening and York Region Transit (YRT) bus terminal construction on Major Mackenzie Drive, from Highway 400 to Jane Street, with a direct benefit to the newly constructed Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
    • Installation of water, wastewater and telecom infrastructure and planting street trees as part of road construction projects
• The Region is addressing the growing needs of City of Vaughan residents, businesses and the travelling public, as traffic congestion is identified as the number one public concern in Vaughan
• To maximize as much work as possible, the majority of construction projects are completed in the warmer months when the ground is not frozen and temperatures for mixing and laying asphalt is ideal and traffic volumes are lower

Does York Region coordinate with other projects happening in the area?
Whenever possible, York Region coordinates with the City of Vaughan, developers, utility companies, Environmental Services and other agency infrastructure programs, including the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), Metrolinx, rail authorities, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation and York Telecom Network (YTN), when planning construction projects within the Region. Effective coordination may result in financial benefits and can help minimize impacting the public multiple times and reducing disruption to travellers.

Due to the complexity and timing requirements of certain projects, it is sometimes not possible to avoid construction on adjacent or parallel roads.

How are residents impacted by the project being informed?
To help travellers plan ahead during road construction, we install advance signage, post messages on social media and our website, and distribute notices

• Travellers are encouraged to use traffic and navigation tools. York Region provides real-time traffic and road information in open data, used by many apps
• Find us on social media: @YorkRegionGovt

Why would drivers not see workers?
Dependent on the section of road, you may not see workers because:

• Work is happening below the road elevation and work is away from driver line of sight at road level; at the CN bridge, work is currently at track level and at the culvert, work is at the watercourse level
• Work may not be happening on certain days due to inclement weather and even after the weather event, for example after a heavy rainfall, the contractor needs to wait until water recedes and things get dry
• Work may be happening at one end of the road and no work somewhere else due to scheduling of work activities/sub-contractors or sequencing of activities, for example waiting for concrete to cure