The new Johnson Street Bridge will be opened to traffic on Saturday, March 31, following an official opening and community celebration event.

The community celebration event and associated traffic plans to ready the new bridge for traffic are as follows:

Community Celebration – Hello New, Goodbye Blue

Time: Noon – 5 p.m.

The official opening ceremony begins at noon on the downtown side of the new bridge. The community will then have the opportunity to cross the new bridge before it opens to vehicle traffic.

The celebration event is a street party and community picnic where people can explore the new bridge and pay tribute to “Old Blue”, will also include:

A community picnic on both bridges

Music and entertainment

Food trucks

Vintage cars and emergency vehicles

Activity stations to share memories of “Old Blue” hosted by the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network

Crafts for kids; and more

Both bridges will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event. Wharf Street/Store Street will remain open to vehicle traffic.

Traffic and Road Closures

To prepare for the traffic change over to the new Johnson Street Bridge, and to hold the opening event, both bridges will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 7 a.m., Friday, March 30 until approximately 9 p.m., Saturday, March 31. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained on the existing Johnson Street Bridge.

During the closure, drivers should plan to use the Bay Street Bridge. Information boards have been placed on the east and west approaches to the bridge to advise the public of closures and delays. Transit will be rerouted. Wharf Street/Store Street will remain open to vehicle traffic.

The new bridge is scheduled to open to vehicle traffic around 9 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at which time the existing Johnson Street Bridge will be closed to the public.

Pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle traffic movements for March 30-31 are as follows:

Closure to all vehicle traffic starting 7 a.m., Friday, March 30 until approximately 9 p.m. Saturday, March 31

Pedestrian and cyclist access maintained across the pedestrian sidewalk on the existing Johnson Street Bridge March 30-31 (cyclists must dismount and walk bikes across)

Both bridges and their pedestrian walkways open from Noon – 5 p.m. on March 31

Pedestrian and cyclist access maintained across the pedestrian sidewalk on the existing Johnson Street Bridge from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The new Johnson Street Bridge opens to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians at approximately 9 p.m. March 31 and the old Johnson Street Bridge is officially closed to the public

In addition to opening the new bridge, the pedestrian bridge spanning Esquimalt Road connecting the Galloping Goose and E&N trails will also be opened for public use. The new pedestrian walkway (south side) of the new bridge will remain closed until deconstruction of the old bridge is complete.

Work continues for the next several months to complete the project. Work shifts immediately to removing the old bridge span and completing the interim treatments for public spaces at both the east and west approaches to the bridge, public plazas and a new waterfront park in Victoria West.

The public can expect periodic lane closures on the new bridge and traffic detours during the final phase of construction until the project is fully completed later this summer. Additional closures of the new bridge will be required when the Dynamic Beast crane barge removes the old Johnson Street Bridge.