Traffic on Queens Bridge will be reduced to one westbound lane starting March 2 as the City of London begins a major rehabilitation project that will replace the aging deck, widen the structure and prepare it for future rapid transit.
The overhaul of the downtown bridge comes after inspections revealed deterioration in the existing deck, prompting a full replacement aimed at extending the structure’s lifespan by another 50 years. The project will also update key structural components and add space for transit, pedestrians and cyclists.
“The Queens Bridge is getting old,” said Jenny Dan, the city’s director of construction and infrastructure services. “Some inspections are indicating that the deck is beginning to deteriorate. Now, what we’re looking at is replacing the deck to ensure we get another 50 years out of the bridge.”
Work is planned on Queens Avenue, from Ridout Street North to Wilson Avenue, and the east shoreline of the Thames River under The Queen’s Bridge and Kensington Bridge.
The rehabilitation is part of the city’s broader infrastructure strategy to support long-term growth while maintaining aging assets. By 2051, London’s population is expected to reach nearly 740,000, increasing demand on roads, bridges and transit systems. City officials said widening the bridge now will accommodate future rapid transit infrastructure, new pedestrian crossings and a safer multi-use path rather than requiring another retrofit later.
Construction will have immediate impacts on drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Beginning Monday, March 2, the bridge will be narrowed to a single westbound lane for motorists leaving the downtown core. Drivers heading west are encouraged to consider alternate routes such as Horton Street and Oxford Street, with detour signage posted as needed.
Cyclists and pedestrians will face closures along the Thames Valley Parkway at Queens Bridge on both sides of the river. Detours will be marked, and maps outlining alternate routes are available through the city’s Get Involved webpage. Access to Harris Park at the bridge entrance will close, though the park will remain accessible via the west extension of Dufferin Avenue.
The project unfolds as Londoners continue to navigate multiple infrastructure works across the city, fuelling what some residents describe as construction fatigue.
“We have some of the fastest growth of cities in Canada,” Dan said. “There’s a lot of work we need to do to upgrade our infrastructure and to make it safe and reliable. We’ve got to have what we need to be able to cater to it, to grow with the city and our plans.”
Dan said while projects may overlap due to growth pressures and funding timelines tied to senior levels of government, the city works to coordinate schedules, manage impacts and communicate changes clearly. She acknowledged the first weeks after traffic pattern changes can be challenging but said congestion typically stabilizes.
“The first couple of weeks post an in-traffic cycle change like this, a little hairy, at best, but traffic will disperse itself,” she said, urging residents to be patient.
Residents can subscribe for updates on the Queens Bridge project through the city’s Get Involved webpage.
