Brantford residents will have the chance to learn more about the upcoming Lorne Bridge Rehabilitation Project at an open house being held on Thursday, April 17 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lions Park Auditorium (20 Edge St.).
The open house will provide details about the planned improvements to the bridge, with city officials available to answer questions and discuss the project’s scope.
The $10.8 million project will involve several key upgrades, including:
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Concrete repairs
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Asphalt resurfacing
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Expansion joint replacement
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Repairs to the bridge piers, abutments, and retaining walls on the east side
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Repair and waterproofing of the pedestrian tunnel on the west side
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2026 and is expected to be completed by winter 2026.
The Lorne Bridge, built in 1924, spans Colborne Street West over the Grand River, connecting west Brantford with the downtown core. The bridge features two lanes of traffic in each direction, plus a turn lane for eastbound motorists entering the city’s heart. There are also sidewalks on both the north and south sides, and the bridge is made up of the Lorne Arch Bridge, a Girder Bridge, and a pedestrian underpass.
City officials noted that the original structure is showing signs of concrete deterioration, requiring significant structural repairs. The site has served as a river crossing since 1841, with several iterations of the bridge over the years, including a wooden covered structure and a through truss bridge before the current one.
In addition to the Lorne Bridge project, Brantford is also moving forward with a $6.755 million project to replace the Brant’s Crossing Pedestrian Bridge and Fordview Lookout, which is expected to be completed by fall 2025. This new pedestrian bridge will enhance safety and accessibility for users of the SC Johnson Trail while also safeguarding the structure against future flooding.
