Rouge River bridge work in Pickering to shut down all train service into and out of Durham this weekend

The 117 year-old Rouge River bridge separating Toronto from Pickering is undergoing rehabilitation this weekend that will extend the life cycle of the heritage structure for another 20 years while also pushing riders off trains and onto busses for the entire weekend.

The bridge work, part of the largest program expansion in GO Transit’s history, will involve removing the track on both approaches and installing new precast concrete retaining walls and approach slabs. This will necessitate the use of large cranes that will involve lifting over the trail, hence the reason for the closure.

To accommodate this work, the trail – from the Rouge River through Rodd Ave in Pickering – as well as all GO Train service through will be shut from Friday April 22 to end of service Sunday night.

The trail will close to the public around 6 p.m. Go Train service will continue until about 11 p.m. Train service will resume Monday morning at 6 a.m.

Metrolinx is warning pedestrians and cyclists that detouring around the closure is not recommended. There is short (1.6km) connection between the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the Pickering GO Station via Sandy Beach Road.

As far as commuters, Metrolinx is encouraging customers to plan ahead this weekend as Lakeshore East Line GO Train service is replaced by buses. Of note:  replacement buses will only stop at Durham Region GO stations.

The 10:35 p.m. train from Union Station trip will be the last eastbound train to run all stops to Oshawa GO and starting at 11:05 p.m. buses will replace train service

The last buses will depart at 1:30 a.m. and 2:20 a.m. and run as normal.

Replacement buses will not service Danforth, Scarborough, Eglinton, Guildwood and Rouge Hill GO.

The 10:40 p.m. train from Oshawa GO will be the westbound last train to run all stops to Union Station

Starting at 11:10 p.m. buses will depart at the same time as regularly scheduled train trips from Oshawa GO, stopping at Whitby, Ajax and Pickering GO and then running express to Union Station Bus Terminal

As with eastbound trains, replacement buses will not service Rouge Hill, Guildwood, Eglinton, Scarborough and Danforth GO.