The City of Brantford will officially reopen the Ava Road Bridge to through traffic on Friday, marking a major milestone in the city’s multi-phase bridge rehabilitation project. The partial reopening comes more than a year after the bridge was closed in May 2024 for critical infrastructure upgrades within the Canadian National Railway (CNR) corridor.
Effective Friday, June 13, weather permitting, motorists and pedestrians can once again cross the bridge, which now features one lane of traffic in each direction and a newly constructed pedestrian sidewalk. The structure spans the CNR tracks, providing a vital link between Brant Avenue and Paris Road.
“This reopening represents an important step forward in the transformation of one of Brantford’s busiest transportation corridors,” said Mayor Kevin Davis. “While construction continues, restoring access for drivers, pedestrians and public services is a welcome milestone. I want to thank our staff, our partners, and especially the residents of Brantford for their patience.”
The bridge’s reopening is expected to ease traffic congestion in surrounding areas and reestablish a key route for emergency vehicles, transit services, and daily commuters. With through access restored, Brantford Transit’s Northwest Industrial route will resume regular service. Emergency responders will also benefit from more direct and efficient travel across the city.
“This is great news for our community,” said Councillor John Sless. “Having the bridge open to traffic again means safer, quicker access for emergency responders and transit users, especially in the northwest industrial area.”
The project is being supported by $8,028,000 in funding from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), which assists municipalities in maintaining and improving essential public infrastructure.
“Our government is proud to support local infrastructure projects that will lay the foundation for strong, vibrant communities and make a real difference in people’s lives,” said Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, Kinga Surma. “The Ava Road Bridge project is part of our most ambitious capital plan to invest more than $200 billion over the next decade.”
Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma praised the progress: “I am pleased to be part of a government that prioritizes building Ontario and enhancing infrastructure. The $8M from OCIF will go a long way to the completion of the Ava Road bridge rehabilitation project. Well done, Brantford.”
Final phases of construction, including concrete finishing and surface treatments, will continue in the coming months, with full project completion expected later this year.
“We are very grateful to residents and commuters for their patience throughout the bridge closure,” added Councillor Gino Caputo. “I’m thrilled we’re now at the point where the bridge can reopen, even partially, and begin making a real difference in people’s daily lives.”
The Ava Road Bridge Rehabilitation Project underscores Brantford’s ongoing commitment to strengthening core infrastructure and enhancing mobility for all residents.
