The long-awaited slow train to Bowmanville has inched another step forward with work crews mobilizing to start the two-year upgrade of the Green Road rail bridge in Bowmanville.
This is the first major capital construction associated with the project in the Municipality of Clarington, Yi Luo of Metrolinx, told Clarington officials recently.
Traffic on the section before and after the existing bridge slowed to a crawl yesterday as equipment was unloaded and set up.
Metrolinx, the operator of GO Transit, is constructing an above-grade rail bridge on Green Road (see below) next to the existing Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) rail bridge, north of Aspen Springs Drive and south of Clarington Boulevard.
Reconstruction of the Simcoe Street bridge over the CPKC rail line in Oshawa, which began in January this year, is ongoing and is similarly scheduled for completion in two years.
Like the Simcoe Street bridge, work on Green Road bridge will also not take place on weekends, according to Metrolinx. Works are projected to last until May 31, 2028, said Metrolinx, and will be carried out Monday to Friday from 7 am to 5 pm.
40% Rise in Track Length and Service Capacity
The GO Rail Mobile Extension Project will extend the Lakeshore East line approximately 18.7 kilometres from Oshawa to the planned Bowmanville station and will deliver two‑way, all‑day service.
Yi Luo said the extension represents an approximate 40 per cent increase in both track length and service capacity along the Lakeshore East corridor and is the largest expansion of the line since the 1990s.
He explained the project includes construction of new passenger dedicated tracks within the CP rail corridor, along with new, modified, and replacement bridges, including a new rail bridge at Green Road, which will be the first major capital construction associated with the project in the Municipality of Clarington.
Theresa Tran of Metrolinx advised that operator of GO Transit will continue to work closely with municipal and regional engineering staff and will adjust construction activities as needed to address timing or quality‑assurance issues.
She explained that pedestrian access will be maintained throughout construction, supported by signage and detour plans, and community impacts will be minimized through advance notice, online and on‑site communications, direct coordination with nearby schools and stakeholders, and advised dedicated community engagement team will remain available throughout the construction period to respond to public inquiries and concerns.