Metrolinx completes historic bridge rehab

A key connection on the Lakeshore East GO Line between Toronto and Pickering, Ontario, is also one of the oldest rail bridges in east Toronto. Completion of a recent rehabilitation project of the Rouge River Bridge by Metrolinx will ensure the 118-year-old bridge continues to safely host passenger rail trains for another 20 years.

Metrolinx originally planned to fully replace the bridge as part of the larger GO Expansion project, but the rail bridge is listed as a provincial heritage property and is one of the last remaining rail bridges in the region to feature an ashlar stone masonry substructure and steel deck truss superstructure – a characteristic of early railway bridge construction.

The bridge is not only a piece of railroad history, but also a significant landmark for those who travel the trail underneath it.

Metrolinx began a rehab project on the bridge in September 2021, which included:

• Repairs to the bridge’s superstructure including: blast cleaning and coating all structural steel and steel surfaces; repairing, strengthening and replacing the structural steel members that are used to support the bridge’s structure.
• Repairs to the bridge’s substructure, including: masonry stone repairs for the abutments and piers, crack injections and concrete patch repairs, grout repairs at the approach span bearing pedestals and bearing replacement.
• Timber deck ties and track were replaced, while communication utilities were relocated and protected.
• A new approach slab was added and retaining walls and 25 meters (85 feet) of track on each side was replaced.

In a blog post describing the work performed on the bridge, Metrolinx says the project “will allow future generations to enjoy this local landmark, and give the bridge a new lease on life.”