Weekend lane reductions are the first steps as improvement works starts at Rutherford GO Station this week. When completed, the station will have a new parking structure with 1,200 spaces, a new railway bridge, plus better pedestrian and cycling connections.

The lane restrictions might cause some delays over the next two weekends (Nov 30 – Dec 1 and Dec 6 – 7), but they are needed to get the Rutherford GO station where it needs to be.

Starting this weekend (Nov. 30), traffic flow will be impacted as Rutherford Road is reduced to one lane in either direction between Westburne Drive and Peter Rupert Avenue as major work begins at the transit station. That work includes construction of the new railway overpass bridge, which is expected to be completed in 2022.

There’s also a full closure for pedestrian access on Rutherford Road between Westburne Drive and Peter Rupert Avenue (Nov 30 – Dec 1 and Dec 6 – 7).

And while we can’t take the annoyance out of lane restrictions, they will enable crews to quicken their pace in getting the major work done. We’ll talk more about those improvements deeper in this feature.

It’s important to note, the lane reductions will not affect regular weekday commuters. All lanes will be open come Monday morning (Dec. 2).

“We want to thank people who live near the Rutherford GO Station, in advance, for their patience during construction, and we are confident they will appreciate the improvements we are delivering,” said Claudio Gismondi, Metrolinx manager, AFP Early Works for GO Expansion.

Metrolinx knows this kind of work can make your commute more challenging, but the construction will be worth it in the end. Once the station improvements are completed in 2022, Rutherford GO Station will make taking transit in Vaughan easier than ever because:

• The new parking structure featuring 1,200 more spaces
• A new railway bridge over Rutherford Road will enhance safety and enable two-way, all-day GO service in the future
• Bike lanes and a pedestrian bridge over the road will provide convenient new ways to reach the station
• 100 new bike parking spots will be added
• An upgraded bus loop will make for more seamless connections to York Region Transit and the Kiss & Ride
• The station building will be much improved.

“Completing the railway bridge will make for shorter travel times, both on our GO Trains and the roads around the Rutherford GO Station,” said Franca Costantino, Metrolinx senior manager for AFP Early Works for GO Expansion.

Costantino says moving the train tracks from street level to the new bridge will also reduce engine idling and improve traffic flows for drivers on Rutherford Road.

This construction is part of the GO Expansion program, which will transform GO rail from a rush-hour service to a two-way, all-day, pan-regional transportation service. GO Expansion includes more than 400 separate projects across more than 40 municipalities, and is the largest single investment in rapid transit in Canada.

Metrolinx is making great progress on this expansion program.  The recent addition of all-day train service on the Barrie line is part of the plan to quadruple GO Rail service and improve customer experiences.

For more information on the Rutherford project, just go here.

And to get updates sent directly to your inbox or phone by signing up for Rutherford On the GO alerts, click here.

(This story was updated on November 19, 2019, to reflect changes from a planned full road closure on Rutherford Rd., to a single-lane closures over two weekends).