Two Hawkesbury Bridges Set for Replacement: What the MTO Project Includes

A major infrastructure project is being planned in Hawkesbury. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is moving forward with plans to replace two structures in the Highway 34 and County Road 17 area, an important transportation corridor for both local and regional traffic.

The project appeared in documents for the February 10, 2025 Hawkesbury Town Council meeting, following a notice issued by Dillon Consulting Limited on January 21, 2025.

The project involves more than replacing two bridges. It also includes changes to interchange ramps and temporary road closures during construction.

Two Structures Are Part of the Project

According to the notice from Dillon Consulting, the MTO retained Dillon and Jacobs to complete the preliminary design and a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) Addendum for the Hawkesbury Bridge Replacements project.

Two structures are specifically identified:

• the CNR/Hawkesbury Creek Overhead, which crosses the railway corridor and Hawkesbury Creek;
• the County Road 17 Underpass at Highway 34.

The project is therefore located at an important point in Hawkesbury’s transportation network, directly affecting the interchange connecting Highway 34 and County Road 17.

“This area is an important gateway into Hawkesbury. When we talk about replacing infrastructure like this, we need to think not only about the construction itself, but also about traffic, local businesses and the experience of residents throughout the project.” - Simon Guindon

Changes Are Also Planned for the Interchange Ramps

The project goes beyond replacing the two structures.

The MTO is also planning modifications to the eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp at the County Road 17 and Highway 34 interchange.

The notice provided to the Town does not outline the full technical details of these modifications. However, they form part of the Preferred Design being considered through the environmental planning process.

For Hawkesbury, these changes are significant because this interchange serves traffic entering and leaving the community.

Temporary Road Closures and Detours Are Expected

One of the most noticeable impacts for residents will likely be traffic disruptions during construction.

According to the project notice, short-duration road closures will be required, with traffic redirected through detour routes.

The purpose of using temporary closures is to minimize impacts on surrounding properties and reduce the overall duration of construction.

For drivers, however, this means there will eventually be periods when normal travel routes are unavailable.

The notice does not provide specific construction dates, the exact duration of the closures or the proposed detour routes.

Those details will be particularly important for residents and businesses as the project moves closer to construction.

“If temporary closures can significantly shorten the overall construction period, there can be advantages. But communication will be essential. Residents and businesses need to know well in advance when roads will close, how long the closures will last and what alternative routes will be available.” - Simon Guindon

Why Was an Environmental Study Addendum Required?

The project is following the environmental planning process for Group B undertakings under the MTO’s Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities.

An environmental study had already been completed for the project. However, under the MTO process, significant modifications made after a Transportation Environmental Study Report has been completed must be reviewed.

When that happens, an addendum must be prepared to document the changes.

For the Hawkesbury project, the TESR Addendum includes the results of consultation with stakeholders, Indigenous communities and the public, updates to existing conditions, and a description of changes to the Preferred Design.

The Public Was Given an Opportunity to Comment

The TESR Addendum was made available on January 21, 2025, beginning a 30-day public comment period.

Residents and other interested parties had until February 22, 2025 to review the report and submit comments to the project team.

The process also allowed requests to be submitted to Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for a Section 16 Order under specific circumstances related to potential adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights.

That consultation period has since ended, but the project remains important to follow as it moves through future stages.

More Than Just Two Bridge Replacements

Replacing aging infrastructure is necessary, but a project of this size can also create significant temporary impacts for a community.

In this part of Hawkesbury, road access is closely connected to local businesses, daily commuting and access to the community itself.

Planning detour routes and communicating upcoming closures will therefore become especially important as construction approaches.

“Investment in our infrastructure is essential. The goal should be to use these investments to improve our transportation network for the long term while minimizing the impact on residents and businesses during construction.” - Simon Guindon

What You Need to Know

• The MTO is planning to replace two structures in the Highway 34 and County Road 17 area of Hawkesbury.
• The project includes the CNR/Hawkesbury Creek Overhead and the County Road 17 Underpass at Highway 34.
• Changes are also planned for the interchange ramps.
• Short-duration road closures and detours will be required during construction to reduce property impacts and the overall construction period.
• At the time of the notice presented to Council in February 2025, specific construction and closure dates were not provided.

What Hawkesbury Residents Should Watch For

The replacement of these two structures represents an important infrastructure project for Hawkesbury and the broader Prescott-Russell transportation network.

For residents, the next major details to watch for will be the construction schedule, overall project timeline, planned road closures and proposed detour routes.

It will also be important to understand how the modifications to the interchange could change or improve traffic movement over the long term.

Modern infrastructure is essential to a growing community. For Hawkesbury, the success of this project will also depend on keeping residents and businesses well informed as work progresses.