The Ava Road Bridge, a vital artery spanning the Canadian National Railway (CNR) tracks, is slated to reopen in April 2025, marking the end of a months-long rehabilitation project aimed at strengthening the city’s aging infrastructure.
Closed to all traffic since late May, the bridge has forced detours for motorists and truck traffic along Ava Road and Brant Avenue, between Parkside Drive and the western entrance to the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind. City officials say the timeline accounts for the project’s complexity, including challenges posed by frequent train activity and site-specific conditions.
“Rehabilitating a structure of this scale, especially one spanning an active rail corridor, requires careful coordination and time,” a city spokesperson said in a statement.
The work has been billed as a critical investment in Brantford’s infrastructure, ensuring the long-term safety and reliability of the route that connects Brant Avenue to Paris Road.
While the city acknowledges the disruption caused by the closure, it says the repairs are necessary to meet modern standards and accommodate future growth.
In the interim, detour routes remain in place, and residents can find project updates and traffic advisories on the City of Brantford’s website at brantford.ca/AvaRoadBridge.
Weather and unforeseen construction challenges could still impact the schedule, but officials remain optimistic about reopening the bridge on time.
For now, the city is asking commuters for continued patience as crews work to complete the rehabilitation project.
