Even though Toronto Mayor Rob Ford famously canceled the Transit City network of light rail lines on his first day in office, December 1, 2010, work continued on at least one project that emerged from the light-rail plan.

City of Toronto and TTC contractors continued that project to build a bridge to carry the tracks of GO Transit’s 71 Stouffville line across Sheppard Avenue East east of Kennedy Road, near Agincourt GO Station. (The City and TTC originally intended this bridge to also serve the Sheppard East light rail line.)

Today, Tuesday, July 3, the new underpass opens and all traffic on Sheppard Avenue East operates along the underpass below the train tracks.

The new bridge improves traffic conditions along Sheppard Avenue East, preventing delays for vehicles and TTC buses operating along the 85 Sheppard East route. Perhaps more important, it also improves train service, as GO looks ahead to all-day, two-way service along the line. And, now that City Council has overturned the Mayor’s decision to cancel light rail projects, the bridge will also benefit the LRT service once that line is operating.

Work near the site of the bridge has affected the parking lot at Agincourt GO Station since October 11, 2009. The GO station was also the site of the official launch of construction for the first Transit City line along Sheppard East in December 2009.

Now that the bridge is open to traffic, some of the access routes into and out of the station are changing. An officer will redirect motorists entering and exiting the station during rush hours. Please check the notices at the station for more details about which access roads are available.