Bathurst Street reconnection nears completion in York Region

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 18, 2016
By Simon Martin

Few people in York Region can remember what it was like when Bathurst Street had a continuous link to Hwy. 11. The road used to be used only in the summer months and doubled as toboggan hill in the winter. But just weeks away from the 2nd Concession re-opening, commuters can rejoice knowing the long awaited Bathurst Street reconnection will be open for motorists before the end of the year.

According to York Region manager of engineering, transportation services, Paul Acquaah, the road is scheduled to reopen in November. The $32.7-million reconnection from Green Lane to Holland Road has been in the works for several years. The original estimate for completion was 2014 but the discovery of a Huron-Wendat settlement immediately north of where the road breaks delayed the project.

Major work along Bathurst Street between Green Lane West to south of Graham Sideroad took place in 2015. Work that was scheduled to take place this year included reducing the slope of the hill at the Bathurst Street and Morning Sideroad intersection by almost three metres, placing gravel and building the road between culverts 2 and 3, repairing extensive damage caused by a storm on July 8, installing street lights at the Bathurst Street and Morning Sideroad intersection, planting more than 5,000 trees, shrubs and native plants throughout the site

Each of the three newly constructed culverts along Bathurst Street were also built as wildlife crossings, allowing animals to safely pass under the road.

While the road is expected to open to motorists this year, minor work, such as additional tree planting and drainage adjustments will take place in 2017, Acquaah said. Signal timings at the Bathurst Street and Hwy. 11 intersection will be monitored and adjusted after the road opens.

The Bathurst street project was divided into two phases to account for the delay associated with archaeological investigation of the aboriginal village site.

Phase 1 was the north section of the road, including Bathurst Street at Hwy. 11 and Bathurst Street at Holland Landing Road intersections.

Phase 2 was the south section of the project and involved major construction work,including the reconnection of Bathurst Street and a significant bridge replacement.