'Buckling' overpass forces partial closure of Highway 417 near Vankleek Hill
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say sections of the Highway 417 overpass crossing Aberdeen Road east of Ottawa "appear to be buckling," forcing the closure of an eastbound lane of the highway.
Police said in a news release they received a call Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. from someone concerned about the state of the overpass near Vankleek Hill, Ont.
The Ministry of Transportation inspected the overpass and declared it structurally unsound, police said.
OPP closed both eastbound lanes of the 417 between the Highway 34 and Barb Road interchanges, the two nearest to the overpass.
OPP indicated on X that sections of the bridge would likely be closed for a few days, but around 11:30 a.m. Thursday said one of the two eastbound lanes had reopened.
The Ministry of Transportation declared the overpass structurally unsound, OPP said Thursday morning. One lane of the overpass later reopened to drivers. (Ontario Provincial Police/X)
Westbound traffic remains open on the highway. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, the townships have not said whether this affects Aberdeen Road itself.
The overpass is about 85 kilometres east of Ottawa and 80 kilometres west of Montreal.
