ROCKWOOD – Bridge B0311, more popularly known as the Valley Road Bridge, is set for removal after being declared the bridge in the worst condition out of the municipality’s 35 bridges.
Located on Valley Road, the bridge is regularly travelled by pedestrians and those looking for a shortcut into the Rockwood Conservation Area.
The Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (OSIM) outlines inspection criteria for structures exceeding three metres in length.
The manual mandates at least one bridge and culvert inspection every two calendar years.
The OSIM manual uses components such as foundations, abutments, superstructure, deck, barriers and embankments to determine the bridge condition index (BCI) for the structure.
BCIs are scored from 0 to 100. A very good rating is 90 to 100, good is 70 to 89, fair is 50 to 69, poor is 40 to 49 and very poor is less than 40.
Seven Guelph/Eramosa bridges scored very good, 18 scored good, nine scored fair and one scored very poor (twin culverts on the 6th Line).
Valley Road bridge, which had a 56.1 BCI, will remain open for occasional use and will be continuously monitored to ensure safety.
“Replacement cost is estimated at $1,400,000,” states the report.
“The Grand River Conservation Authority has indicated they do not require access to Rockwood Conservation Area over this structure.”
It is unclear when the bridge will be removed as Alectra Utilities in Guelph also uses the bridge to access and maintain a hydro transformer on the other side.
The company will look to relocate the transformer.
