HAMILTON, Ontario, January 17, 2012 – Mike Wallace, Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that the Government of Canada is undertaking a significant rehabilitation and maintenance project on the Burlington Lift Bridge, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“The Burlington Lift Bridge is a critical part of regional, provincial and national infrastructure, serving thousands of Canadians daily, and providing substantial local and regional benefits,” Mr. Wallace said. “This project will replace the components that control the lift system of the bridge, ensuring the continued safety and functionality of this important transportation link.”
“The top priority of our Government remains the economy,” said Minister Ambrose. “Through our investments in public infrastructure, we are not only creating jobs across the country but also ensuring safe access to these structures for the public.”
The four-lane Burlington Lift Bridge, completed in 1962, spans the Burlington Bay Canal, which connects Lake Ontario to the Port of Hamilton. In addition to providing a highway link between Burlington and Hamilton for thousands of commuters a day, the lift function of the bridge allows commercial marine traffic to move freely from Lake Ontario to the Port of Hamilton. The bridge is also used by cyclists and pedestrians and is a designated provincial emergency response route.
The major electrical systems that control the lift function of the bridge are near the end of their service life. As a result, the drive motors, bridge control systems and wiring systems will be replaced.
Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) will be conducting a fair, open and transparent process for selecting contractors to undertake the project. The process will be conducted through the Government Electronic Tendering System (MERX). The design contract is expected to be awarded in early February. When the design work is completed, PWGSC will post a Request for Proposals for a contractor to complete the rehabilitation and maintenance work.
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For more information, media may contact:
Michelle Bakos
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
819-997-5421
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/medias-media/index-eng.html.
The Burlington Canal Lift Bridge will undergo a four-year project to replace the drives and controls for the lifting mechanism and related works. The bridge’s controls, drives and associated electrical components have been in operation for over fifty years and have reached the end of their service life. The proactive replacement of these components will alleviate the risk of failure and emergency repair and improve the performance of the bridge.
The project objective is to replace the bridge’s outdated control systems, main drive motors and overhead cables. The project will also address other required modifications such as an upgrade of the bridge’s electrical and mechanical systems, along with structural works required to complete these tasks. The completed project will result in more efficient operations and increased safety.
The project is divided into two stages. Significant dates are indicated below.
- The first stage will be underway soon and includes the design of the new system and planning for the construction work.
| Completion of design |
March 2013 |
- The second stage consists of the construction and commissioning. Construction will take place over two years during the winter shutdown period when the bridge is not lifting for marine traffic.
| Construction – year one |
January to March 2014 |
| Construction – year two |
January to March 2015 |
| Completion of project |
June 2015 |
Any anticipated delays or closures during construction will be advertised in advance.
