If you’re commuting to the Honda plant in Alliston or CFB Borden, watch out for a couple of bridge closures that are expected to start within the next few weeks and last until Christmas

If you’re commuting to the Honda plant in Alliston or CFB Borden, watch out for a couple of bridge closures that are expected to start within the next few weeks and last until Christmas.

The Bear Creek Bridge on County Road 56 will be closed by July 1 and is expected to remain closed until Dec. 23, while the Alliston bridge on King Street North (also known as County Road 15) is to close even sooner, on June 27.

“You’re closing two routes to CFB Borden. These are two significant routes travelled by Honda employees and Borden employees,” said Innisfil Deputy Mayor Lynn Dollin, who wondered why the county’s engineering staff would plan the works to occur simultaneously.

Needing to be done, the county proceeded with planning and communicating with Essa, New Tecumseth, Base Borden, Honda and other major employers, said Debbie Korolnek, the county’s engineering, planning and environment general manager.

The Bear Creek Bridge is just south of the Bear Creek Golf, slightly downhill on the county road that’s used by commuters as the major link between County Road 90 – also known as Dunlop Street when it’s in Barrie – and Hwy. 89.

The project will includes tearing out the aging concrete bridge and changing the road profile as the county road approaches the bridge from both the north and south. It will have two 3.75-metre lanes, plus two 2.5-metre side clearances.

The recommended detour route is County Road 90, County Road 27 and then County Road 21 – a distance of approximately 23 kilometres. Access to the Bear Creek Golf Clu will be maintained during construction, however.

The replacement bridge in Alliston will measure 14 metres wide, which will have two vehicular lanes and a 2-metre sidewalk on the east side.

For a detour to avoid the Alliston bridge work, the county recommends Victoria Street West, Church Street North and Fletcher Crescent. Access to businesses, as well as to Riverdale Park, will remain open.