Ontario Construction News staff writer
Starting Feb. 28, contractors will be invited to submit proposals for the replacement of the Frederick Street bridge in Kitchener, another milestone in the plan to widen Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph.
To accommodate the future widening of Highway 7, the bridge will be lengthened to ensure traffic can flow in both directions with shoulders and multi-use paths accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The people of Kitchener-Waterloo have waited far too long for the new Highway 7,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “That is why our government has made it a priority to move this project forward. The new highway will be a game changer for the region, ensuring the efficient movement of people and goods across southern Ontario, with commuters spending less time sitting in traffic and more time doing what matters most to them.”
Once complete, the new Highway 7 will include seven interchanges between Kitchener and Guelph, including a multi-level connection to Highway 85, a new crossing over the Grand River and improvements to local roads to help keep communities connected.
“Today’s announcement is an important next step in the provincial government’s commitment to move the Highway 7 project forward,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “The construction of the Frederick Street Bridge will not only help connect residents and businesses between Kitchener, Guelph and surrounding areas but will also be key to moving goods throughout southern Ontario, across Canada and elsewhere in North America.”