The new bridge will feature on-road bike lanes, a multi-use trail, and a pedestrian pathway, improving overall accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and those who use mobility aids. It will also feature new plaza areas for the public to view the harbour, an improved navigation channel for marine vessels, and will be built to a lifeline seismic standard—which means it would be able to withstand an 8.5 magnitude earthquake. This is the highest standard in current bridge design code for Canada. A public art piece and new public green space are planned enhancements to the area as a result of the bridge project.

The area near the existing Johnson Street Bridge is now an active construction site. The public can expect to see more crews and equipment arriving over the coming weeks. The first of two temporary trestles will soon be built on the north side of the bridge to support cranes and equipment to build the new bridge.

The current bridge will remain open to pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and marine traffic until the new bridge opens to traffic in late 2015.

The new bridge will be the largest single-leaf bascule lift bridge in Canada – and one of the largest in the world – creating a new iconic structure and destination within Victoria’s Inner Harbour. A bascule bridge is a bridge that includes a lift section to provide clearance for boat traffic.

PCL Constructors Westcoast has been recruiting locally for contractors and trades positions. The Urban Development Institute estimates that construction of the new bridge will have long-term local economic benefits in excess of $500 million. This includes economic benefits from new development and overall revitalization of the area.

The area near the existing Johnson Street Bridge is now an active construction site. The public can expect to see more crews and equipment arriving over the coming weeks. The first of two temporary trestles will soon be built on the north side of the bridge to support cranes and equipment to build the new bridge. Learn more about construction activity

While the existing bridge is expected to remain open throughout construction, some impacts such as traffic delays, detours, and noise will be unavoidable at times. Visit the construction activity page to learn more about upcoming construction activity.

Local hotels, restaurants and adjacent businesses are also expected to benefit from construction. The Urban Development Institute estimates that construction of the new bridge will have long-term local economic benefits in excess of $500 million. This includes economic benefits from new development and overall revitalization of the area. Based on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ calculation for short-term job creation per million dollars of infrastructure investment, about 900 short-term jobs are expected as a result of this project.

While the existing bridge will remain open, some impacts such as traffic delays, detours, and noise will be unavoidable at times. The public are invited to learn more about upcoming construction activity at one of the following events:

Drop-In Information Sessions

You are invited to drop in for coffee and learn more about upcoming construction activity. Staff will be on hand to answer questions.

Thursday, May 2

8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Swans Hotel, Collard Room – 506 Pandora Avenue

Enter Collard Room off Store Street

Sunday, May 5

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, Harbour Room – 45 Songhees Road

Enter Harbour Room from harbour walkway or downstairs from hotel lobby

Drop-in events. Please Contact Us for more information.

If you are unable to attend a session, visit the Construction Activity page for more information about upcoming construction and check out the Public Information page for other ways to stay up-to-date on the latest project information.

A copy of the report and power point presentation are available on the Council Updates page.

The bridge was closed Sunday morning (February 17) from 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. as crews completed repairs to the fendering system of the bridge. The bridge was in an upright position to accommodate repair work taking place directly beneath the bridge.

Traffic will be rerouted to the Point Ellice (Bay Street) Bridge during this time. The navigational channel will also be closed to marine traffic.

This work is unrelated to the construction of the new Johnson Street Bridge. The in-water work involves repairing the fendering system of the existing Johnson Street Bridge by replacing damaged wood piles on the west side of the crossing with new wood piles.

The damage was caused last year when the fender was struck by a barge passing beneath the bridge. Collisions are not common but they do happen from time to time. A bridge fender is made of wood pilings and is in place to protect the bridge structure in the event of a collision. As the existing bridge will continue to be in operation until the new bridge opens in 2015 the fender must be repaired.

The bridge will be in an upright position to accommodate repair work that will take place directly beneath the bridge. The fender repair work is expected to continue until the end of next week. Beyond the bridge closure Sunday morning, no further traffic impacts are anticipated.

On Friday, February 15, crews will also be on the west side of the bridge conducting geotechnical investigation work related to the construction of the new Johnson Street Bridge. Traffic will not be impacted.

For more information: City of Victoria Public Works 250.361.0400 (weekdays) or 250.385.5711 (after hours / weekend)

The Johnson Street Bridge will remain open to vehicle and marine traffic throughout most of the work. However, the public are advised that a full bridge closure is expected on the evening of Saturday, February 16 as the bridge is lifted into an upright position while work is completed directly beneath the bridge. The navigational channel will also be closed to marine traffic during this time. The bridge will re-open to all traffic on Sunday, February 17. The City will issue a media advisory and notifications through the local media, social media, and the website once the specific closure time is known.

This work is unrelated to the construction of the new Johnson Street Bridge. The damage was caused last year when the fender was struck by a barge passing underneath the bridge. Collisions are not common but they do happen from time to time.

A bridge fender is made of wood pilings and is in place to protect the bridge structure in the event of a collision. As the existing bridge will continue to be in operation until the new bridge opens in 2015 the fender must be repaired.

PCL’s contract includes the construction of a new bascule lift Johnson Street Bridge with three vehicle lanes, on-road bike lanes, a multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists, and a pedestrian deck on the south side.

The contract also includes decommissioning the old Johnson Street Bridge once the new bridge is complete, construction of improved road alignments and traffic calming features on both sides of the bridge, installation of a signalized intersection at Harbour and Esquimalt Roads, widened sidewalks and pathways leading to the bridge with links to existing and future pathways and trails, public viewing and plazas areas on the east and west sides, and landscaping. In addition, PCL will also construct a retaining wall on the City’s adjacent property on Harbour Road.

PCL is the largest contracting organization in Canada, and the 6th largest in the United States. PCL has built large scale bridges across North America, including the Alex Fraser Bridge in Vancouver.

In November, PCL’s proposal ranked highest based on criteria outlined in the City’s Request for Proposals. In November 2012, Council directed staff to proceed into negotiations for a fixed-price contract to construct the new Johnson Street Bridge.

During the collaborative procurement process conducted over the past several months, the three firms competing for the bridge contract were invited to propose engineering optimizations that could reduce costs or risks and minimize impacts during construction. Six engineering optimizations are included with PCL’s contract. As a result of one engineering modification to the bascule wheel, it now allows pedestrians to walk through the wheel of the bridge when opening or closed.

The overall budget for the replacement of the Johnson Street Bridge is $92.8 million. The Government of Canada is providing up to $37.5 million in funding towards the project, including $21 million from the Building Canada Fund and $16.5 million through Canada’s Gas Tax Fund. The remaining bridge replacement costs are funded by the City of Victoria through reallocated capital budgets and electoral approved borrowing of up to $49.2 million.