St. Paul Street West (Regional Road 81) - CN Rail Bridge Replacement
All Niagara Region projects

About the project

Niagara Region completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for the replacement of the St. Paul Street West CN Rail Bridge in St. Catharines.

Originally constructed in 1922, the St. Paul Street West CN Rail Bridge has undergone extensive inspection and evaluation that has identified the structure for immediate replacement. The replacement will address the aging infrastructure and improve the vertical alignment of the roadway and the retaining walls on all bridge approaches.

Niagara Region is leading the project because of its close relation to the St. Catharines GO Train Station redevelopment. Improvements to access the proposed GO Transit station via Great Western Street will be addressed.

Project update

Niagara Region has been observing the bridge's condition since load restrictions and lane closures were put in place in December 2022 due to the bridge's condition at that time.

Niagara Region and Canadian National Railway are closing the bridge due to the continuing deterioration of the structure. It would pose a significant risk to the health and safety of the public if it were to stay open.

The bridge is closing to all vehicles before the winter weather because it can no longer safely handle the traffic and snow load. It also cannot support winter maintenance vehicles.

Bridge replacement

The road closure for vehicles will start on Nov. 20, 2023. Pedestrians and cyclists can cross the bridge until the removal process starts in March 2024. The bridge is expected to be closed until the end of 2026.

Before we tender these projects, we will proceed with a separate tender for the removal of the bridge. However, Bell Canada must first move their infrastructure from the bridge before it is taken down.

GO station precinct and Ridley area projects

The replacement of the bridge is part of a larger project for the area and includes Niagara Region and City of St. Catharines projects:

• St. Paul Street West CNR Bridge replacement (Niagara Region)
• St. Catharines GO Station site works (Niagara Region)
• Station access road from Ridley Road to the St. Catharines GO Station (Niagara Region and City of St. Catharines)
• Ridley Road reconstruction (City of St. Catharines)
• Louth Street (Regional Road 72) and Ridley Road intersection improvement (Niagara Region)

These projects will be grouped together for faster and more efficient construction.

Project timeline