Overview
The Burlington Skyway is a pair of high-level freeway bridges located between Hamilton and Burlington, Canada. Locally known as the Skyway, it is a part of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) highway, connecting Fort Erie with Toronto. In 2013, the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) awarded a painting contract to Harrison Muir Inc. primarily involving the application structural paint to the bridge.
As part of this project, the contractor had to install large scaffolding, which, during high winds, created a sail effect that imposed excessive stress on the bridge. To mitigate the load during high winds, gates were installed to close the right and left lanes of the bridge, while keeping the two center lanes open to motorists.
Project Scope
The MTO decided to install temporary automated warning signs (SwiftSign). This simple solution meets the variable speed limit requirement, dynamically reducing it from 100km/h to 80km/h. Automated swing gates (SwiftGate) were used as a lane closure solution for the project’s duration.
In total, five SwiftSign and 43 SwiftGate were installed on the approaches and the bridge. A Smart Handheld Controller was used to activate and monitor all the automated gates and signs. The gate and sign modules were solar-powered, enabling swift and effortless installation.
