Queen Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project Receives Prestigious Provincial Award

The Town of Newmarket has received provincial recognition for one of the most significant infrastructure projects undertaken in our community in recent decades.

The Queen Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project has been awarded the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) Project of the Year Award in the Transportation category, recognizing excellence in project management, innovation, stakeholder collaboration, safety, environmental stewardship, and long-term infrastructure planning.

This award is a testament to the dedication of Town staff, project partners, Council, and the community who worked together to successfully deliver this complex and important project.

The Queen Street Bridge is more than just a bridge. It is Newmarket's only grade-separated crossing over the Metrolinx rail corridor, serving as a critical connection for residents, businesses, emergency services, and visitors travelling through our downtown and across our community. The rehabilitation project was the largest bridge rehabilitation undertaken by the Town in more than 30 years and was completed on schedule and under budget.

Delivering the project required overcoming a number of significant challenges, including construction adjacent to an active rail corridor, coordinating with multiple utility providers, managing traffic impacts, and ensuring the bridge could accommodate future Metrolinx expansion and electrification plans. Through strong planning and collaboration, the project was completed safely and successfully.

The project was recognized for its strong community engagement and exceptional stakeholder coordination involving the Town of Newmarket, Ainley Group, Alliance Verdi Civil Inc., Metrolinx, Bell Canada, utility providers, residents, and local businesses.

Most importantly, this investment will continue to benefit residents for decades to come by extending the life of critical infrastructure, improving pedestrian accessibility and safety, enhancing roadway safety features, maintaining emergency access routes, supporting future transit expansion, and strengthening connectivity throughout Newmarket's downtown core.

Congratulations to the Town's Engineering Services team and all staff who contributed to this award-winning project. Their expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence continue to help build a safe, connected, and thriving community.

Awards like this reinforce what many of us already know: Newmarket is a leader in delivering infrastructure projects that serve residents today while planning responsibly for the future.