Ruth Street overpass rehabilitation begins next month

Starting May 2 rehabilitation begins on the 50-year-old, four-lane concrete overpass on Idlwyld Drive freeway that spans the intersection of Lorne Avenue and Ruth Street.

The majority of work required on the structure will focus on the concrete bridge decks and abutments on each end of the overpass. The existing asphalt surface and the top layer of concrete will be removed, concrete will be replaced and a new concrete overlay will finish off the surface of the repaired overpass. 

Work starts first on the southbound span by with two-way traffic moving onto the northbound span using existing crossover lanes 400 meters north and south of the overpass.

Crews want to minimize impacts to traffic using a specific phased approach for concrete removal and replacement that will allow vehicle traffic at all times below the structure as well as maintaining two-way single lane traffic on Idlwyld Drive.

According to modeling by city planners, there will only be additional 30 seconds of travel time needed to get through the construction zone. 

The contractor in this project is the same group that preformed the rehabilitation of the University Bridge last summer, Horseshoe Hill Construction.

The budget for this project comes in at $3,362, 273.25 – it also includes a $10,000 site rental fee, created to give incentive to the contractor to complete the project on time or early and penalizing the contractor for late completion.

The scheduled end date for construction completion is Aug. 30 barring any unforeseen circumstances or weather delays.

Work will be done in 12 hour shifts from Monday to Saturday including the possibility of night work or work on Sundays as long as city noise bylaws are followed.