Northfield exits on Highway 85 to be closed for 18 months for ION construction

Starting Monday, both the north and southbound ramps of Highway 85 at Northfield Road will be closed for a year and a half in order to accommodate construction of the ION light rail transit project. 

It means drivers will have to exit the highway at either the King Street North exit north of Northfield Road, or the King Street North exit just south of Conestoga Mall for the next 18 months, according to Lauren McGirr, who speaks on behalf of Grandlinq, the consortium that's been hired to build the nearly $800 million public transit project. 

She said crews will spend the next 18 months refitting the bridge on Northfield Road that spans Highway 85 in order accommodate the yet-to-be-constructed LRT. 

"We have to reinforce the bridge in order to ensure that it can accommodate the traffic, the train and the tracks, all the equipment associated with the train," McGirr said. 

Signs that tell drivers about the change are already in place, according to McGirr and additional signage will be in place in time for the Monday morning rush hour. 

McGirr said in addition to the closure of the Northfield exits, there will also be temporary lane restrictions on Highway 85 at night where the construction is taking place, but she did not give a specific date. 

Temporary lane restrictions will also be in place along Northfield Road between King Street North and the Canadian National railway tracks.