Vehicle fire briefly closes portion of Highway 85 northbound

Traffic on Highway 85 North sits at a standstill after an earlier reported vehicle fire near University Avenue East on Thursday morning. (Christine Clark / 570 NewsRadio)

By CityNews Kitchener Staff

Posted Sep 25, 2025 11:06:34 AM.

Last Updated Sep 25, 2025 01:20:47 PM.

A vehicle fire on Highway 85 left northbound traffic at a standstill through Kitchener and into Waterloo on Thursday.

It was just after 10 a.m. on Thursday when callers to the 570 NewsRadio newsroom reported northbound lanes on Highway 85 were blocked at Bridgeport Road East by emergency services, with traffic being diverted off the highway.

Photo of the scene from Ministry of Transportation cameras, taken just before 11 a.m. on Thursday.

An update provided by members of the Ontario Provincial Police just before 11 a.m. indicated that tow services were on scene to remove that vehicle, with northbound lanes expected to reopen swiftly.

All lanes on Highway 85 northbound reopened just after 12 p.m. Thursday.

OPP note that the occupant of that vehicle was able to exit safely, with initial reports showing no injuries.

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