A major road project is on track for Barrie.
The Ontario government is replacing the Dunlop Street bridge in Barrie to accommodate the future widening of Highway 400 to 10 lanes. The bridge replacement is part of the province’s nearly $30 billion plan to build, expand and repair highways, roads and bridges, helping to protect Ontario’s economy and keep thousands of workers on the job in the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.
“As Ontario continues to grow, our government is investing historic amounts to build the new roads, highways and bridges we need to keep drivers moving,” said Ric Bresee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation. “Replacing the Dunlop Street bridge is a crucial step in widening Highway 400 near Barrie, which will reduce gridlock and save time for the more than 100,000 drivers who rely on this stretch of highway every day.”
The project will create almost 500 jobs during construction, from engineers to heavy equipment operators and labourers. Crews will replace the existing Dunlop Street underpass at Highway 400 with modifications to accommodate a 10-lane highway and install a new, taller concrete median barrier. Work will also be done to widen Dunlop Street between the Highway 400 interchange ramps.
“The replacement of Dunlop bridge will reduce gridlock, improve travel times and make it easier for residents to get around the city,” said Alex Nuttall, Mayor of the City of Barrie. “We’re grateful for the continued investment from the Ontario government on these critical infrastructure projects.”
“The Dunlop Street bridge project is a continuation of the promise made to the residents of Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte to ensure goods and commerce can continue to move into and through our region,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte. “This bridge, along with the Anne Street bridge, the Sunnidale bridge and the bridges at Lines 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Oro-Medonte are all part of the plan to repair, replace and expand bridges and roadways across the province to help support Ontario’s economy.”
“The replacement of Barrie’s Dunlop Street bridge will allow the province to make Highway 400 a game changer for the region,” Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil. “Our government listened and is committed to meeting the transportation needs in our area. Improving Highway 400 will meet the continued population growth and make life easier for thousands of commuters and drivers in our community.”
“The Barrie Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Ontario government’s continued investment in our region’s infrastructure. The replacement of the Dunlop Street bridge and the future widening of Highway 400 are vital steps toward improving transportation efficiency, supporting local businesses and strengthening economic ties across central Ontario. These upgrades will not only reduce congestion but also create hundreds of good-paying jobs, reinforcing Barrie’s role as a key economic hub in the province,” said Paul Markle, CEO of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce.
A timeline for the project was not provided.
A news release from the Ontario government states that gridlock costs Ontario’s economy up to $56 billion each year, according to a report from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis. In January 2025, the province announced it had completed work to widen nine kilometres of Highway 400 from Major Mackenzie Drive to King Road in Vaughan.
