FAQs

Q1. Who will be doing most of the work?
A1. The contract was awarded to GIP (Formerly Aecon Construction) for completion of all construction works with the Contract Administration being completed by Egis – Canada (formerly McIntosh Perry Consulting Engineers)

Q2. What is the purpose of this project?
A2. The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the Bay of Quinte Skyway to extend its service life and upgrade to current design standards. Works will also be completed at the Highway 49/York Road signalized intersection to upgrade traffic signals and removal of North Bound Channelized right turn for increased safety.

Q3. What is the project snapshot?
A3. The Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge is an 850 m long, high-level bridge carrying two lanes of Highway 49 traffic over the Bay of Quinte. The Skyway constitutes a fixed link between Prince Edward County to the south and the mainland and Highway 401 to the north. It is one of four fixed link connections to Prince Edward County, which is an important agricultural and recreational destination. Highway 49 north of the bridge passes through Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, a roughly 18,000-acre Territory along the north shore of the Bay of Quinte.

The bridge was constructed circa 1967. The bridge is in need of repairs and will undergo major rehabilitation, including complete replacement of the superstructure (steel girders and deck), rehabilitation of piers, and reconstruction of the abutments. The bridge deck will be widened slightly to comply with current geometric standards and will include 1.5 m shoulders on each side.
The work will include:

  • Complete replacement of the bridge superstructure, including deck and girders;
  • Reconstruction of bridge abutments and wingwalls;
  • Rehabilitation of piers;
  • Installation of skyway lighting on the bridge; and
  • Reconstruction of the road approaches to accommodate the rehabilitated bridge and construction staging.

The work will be staged over several years. The first year (2018) will be for preparation, mobilization and advance work. A single segment of the bridge superstructure (delineated by the six expansion joints in the existing bridge deck) will be replaced in each of the subsequent five years. Within each segment, the bridge will be replaced on a half and half basis with single-lane, bi-directional traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals. Both traffic lanes will be open during seasonal shutdowns.
It is anticipated that cranes on barges will be used to remove the existing and erect new structural steel girders as the bridge spans over water. Land cranes can be used in the approach spans.

Q4. What are the timelines for the project?
A4. Construction started in summer 2018 and should be completed in late summer 2024.

Q5. What are the expected traffic impacts?
Q5. Highway 49 traffic on the Bay of Quinte Skyway will be reduced to a single-lane for each year of construction. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic signals at either end of the work zone in each year. Both traffic lanes will be available during seasonal shutdown.

The single lane closure will be done in short segments of 0.5 km. Motorists can expect the lane closure to shift from one side of the bridge to the other along the same stretch in the same year. (For example: west lane closed from June to September and east lane closed in same area from September to December).

Several night-time full closures on Highway 49 will be required each year to safely accommodate lifting steel girders and placing concrete in the new bridge deck. Advanced notification signs will be installed two weeks prior to closure.

Signing will be in place throughout construction and notices will be placed on Lane Closures, The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and @MBQTMT.

Closure notifications will also be posted on this contract website, Ontario Traveller Information, @511Ontario

Email notifications will also be sent to the contract distribution list. For more information or to be added to our contact list please contact us.

Q6. What is the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)?
A6. The Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) for Highway 49 at the Bay Quinte Skyway is 5,200 vehicles per day

Q7. What is the typical destination of motorists using the Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge?
A7. The Bay of Quinte Skyway is one of four fixed links to Prince Edward County, a major recreational destination. In addition to tourists, the Bay of Quinte Skyway services commuter and commercial traffic.

Q8. What Alternate routes are available to access Prince Edward County?
A8. Refer to Map for alternative access points to Prince Edward County.

Q9. Is construction going to be happening overnight and on the weekends?

A9. Yes, due to the complexity of this project and aggressive timelines to complete construction night work and weekend work is necessary to meet project deadlines.

Q10. How do the temporary traffic signals work, I have had to sit through more then one cycle of lights when crossing the bridge. 

A10. The temporary traffic control signals on Highway 49 are fully actuated traffic signals that rest in red when no vehicle are waiting to cross the bridge. For the traffic signals to cycle and provide a green display, motorists need to pull up and stop at the white stop bar.

MTO uses a minimum green display of 20 seconds and during periods of higher demand, vehicle extensions for the green display may be given to allow more vehicles to clear the bridge.  The maximum, amount of time is 45 seconds and is based on historical traffic volumes in the area.  The length of the amber display is based on the operating speed of the roadway and the length of the all red display is to allow vehicles to safely cross the bridge before the opposing traffic has a green display.

Q11. How do the cameras on the bridge work?  Are they live feeds in real time?

A11.  The cameras are time lapse still photos, taken approximately every 15 minutes.  No personal information will be captured ( for example; licence plate numbers).

Q12. What is the 2023 navigational channel under the Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge.

A12. The navigational channel has returned to the middle span of the bridge.  Please follow the navigational markers.

Q13. How do the traffic signals on the Quinte Skyway Bridge work with the traffic signals at Hwy49 and Airport / Bayshore Rds.?

A13. The traffic signals on the Quinte Skyway Bridge operate in coordination with the traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 49 and Airport Road/Bayshore Road. The two sets of signals are coordinated to minimize the potential for southbound traffic to block the Airport/Bayshore intersection.

These traffic signals also operate using a vehicle detection system. When a vehicle approaches the stop bar on Airport Road or Bayshore Road, it will be detected. This notifies the signal controller to provide a green light to Airport Road and Bayshore Road.

Once the green interval has elapsed, the traffic signals for Airport Road and Bayshore Road will return to red and Highway 49 will receive a green light.