Home
The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) has retained Dillon Consulting Limited and Jacobs to complete the Preliminary Design and Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) Addendum for the replacement of the CNR/Hawkesbury Creek Overhead and the County Road (CR) 17 Underpass at Highway 34 in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Both bridges have reached the end of their useful service life and require replacement.
CR 17 forms the boundary between the Town of Hawkesbury and Champlain Township.
The bridge sites are shown in the figure below.
The purpose of this website is:
- To keep the public informed of the project and updates (e.g. milestones reached, engagement opportunities, traffic detour information);
- To display Public Information Centre (PIC) materials and other documents (refer to: Documents); and
- To invite questions and comments and subscribe to the project mailing list (refer to: Contact Us).
Project Background
In November 2020, the Class EA Study for the Hawkesbury Bridge Replacements Project (the Project) was completed. A TESR was posted for public review, documenting a Preferred Alternative Method for the Project including anticipated environmental impacts, road closures, and proposed mitigation measures.
Major components of the Project included:
- Replacement of the two bridge structures;
- Modifications to the east bound off-ramp and west bound on-ramp at the County Road 17 and Highway 34 interchange; and
- Up to 4 weeks of road closures (required to minimize property impacts and reduce the overall duration of construction), during which traffic will be detoured.
Municipal endorsement of the Preferred Alternative Method for the Project, outlined in the TESR, was not received and the Town of Hawkesbury requested a ‘free flow’ interchange be provided. As a result of this feedback, between 2021 and 2023 additional feasibility studies and municipal consultation was completed that identified additional interchange configuration alternatives and associated construction staging alternatives. Based on this work, it has been determined that a TESR Review and EA Addendum is required to reassess and confirm the Preferred Alternative Method for the Project.
EA Process
The Project is following the approved environmental planning process for Group B undertakings in accordance with MTO’s Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities, 1999, as amended in 2000 (MTO’s Class EA). In accordance with MTO’s Class EA, any significant modification to the Project that occurs after the Notice of Completion of the TESR has been issued must be reviewed by the proponent (TESR Review) and the proponent must prepare a TESR Addendum in respect of the change. (Note: The project team is aware of the new 2023 and 2024 amendments to MTO’s Class EA; however, the Project will remain subject to the 2000 amendments as it was initiated under the 2000 Class EA and is ineligible for transition to the 2024 Class EA.)
At completion of the TESR Review, a TESR Addendum report, documenting the TESR Review process including the Preferred Alternative Method (i.e. Preferred Design), impacts and mitigation measures, and the results of consultation, will be made available on this website for a 30-day public comment period. A notice will be published in local newspapers and posted on the website at that time to advertise that the document is available for review.
Two in-person Public Information Centres (PICs) will be held during the TESR Review to share project information and to collect feedback. Notices will be published in local newspapers and on this project website to advertise the time and location of the PICs.
Schedule
| Event | Date |
| Notice of PIC No. 1 | May 1, 2024 |
| PIC No. 1 | May 16, 2024 |
| PIC No. 2 | October 17, 2024 |
| TESR Addendum Filing & 30-day Public Review Period | January 21 to February 22, 2025 |
The project is expected to go to construction in 2027.
Project Updates
The public review and comment period for the Transportation Environmental Study Report Addendum is closed as of February 22, 2025. The document can still be viewed in the Documents library.
Below is a link to the project location on google maps:
Hawkesbury Bridge Replacements 