Skyway bridge $63M project finished

The Ontario government celebrated completing major improvements to the Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge Wednesday morning. The bridge connects Prince Edward County via County Road 49, to Tyendinaga and Highway 401 for hundreds of thousands who cross over each year.

Ric Bresee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation led the congratulatory messages on the $63 million rehabilitation project which began in 2018. He was at the site with Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson and R. Donald Maracle, Chief of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

The 850m long high-level bridge was replaced over the years on a half and half basis with single-lane closures and temporary traffic signals. On average, 5,200 vehicles per day travel on Highway 49 at the Bay of Quinte.

The project included the replacement of the bridge deck, repairs and reconstruction of bridge supports and widening of bridge shoulders to increase safety for vehicles and pedestrians crossing between Prince Edward County and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

The bridge had been constructed in 1967. To complete the work over water, the contractor used cranes on barges to remove the existing structural steel girders and erect new ones.