Township council is going to have to spend more on its bridges, roads and infrastructure-related equipment just to keep current infrastructure up to standard.
Councillor Andy Lennox, chair of the township’s finance committee, said Wellington North spends about $1 million on infrastructure annually, a figure that is about $800,000 less than what is needed.
Even if the larger figure was spent by the township, it would still fall short of the high end of the almost $1.6 million to $2.2 million recommended by engineering firm BM Ross and Associates.
The firm presented a road management study and bridge report to Wellington North council on Jan. 29.
“This is the infrastructure gap we are talking about,” Lennox said of the shortfall due, in part, to cutbacks in provincial grants available to municipalities.
“We need help from our provincial partners to close the gap.”
Wellington North has about 100 bridges and 388.6 kilometers of roads with 26.1km classed as urban, 20km classed as semi-urban and 342.5 classed as rural.
Of local bridges, engineer Ken Logtenberg said 15 are in need of immediate attention, including the largest project: the Highway 6 bridge at the south end of Mount Forest which, according to BM Ross, needs about $1.15 million in upgrades.
“The steel beams along the edge of the bridge, there’s rusting right through,” he said of the main street bridge. “Most of it is structurally fine.”
Some of the work would involve replacement of the railing with a solid barrier wall to “contain salt and water on the deck,” he told council.
Logtenberg also recommended establishing a weight restriction on some of the bridges, including one on Concession 8, two on Sideroad 13 and one on Concession 6 South. The bridges previously had no weight limits and council approved a 12-tonne limit.
Mayor Ray Tout said the anticipated bridge repairs and possible replacement outlined by BM Ross are significant.
“When you’re talking bridges at $5.5 million, it’s a lot for a small municipality,” he said.
Councillors also mentioned the grant cuts to the former Connecting Link program which saw the province pick up some of the costs associated with work on provincial roadways that ran through municipalities.
Council has asked BM Ross and Associates to look into costs associated with connecting link roads.
“Council wants to have a clear understanding of the current state of each of these roads (Highways 6 and 89 that run through Mount Forest) and the capital costs associated with maintaining them and the bridges on those roads,” township CAO Mike Givens said in an email to the Advertiser.
“Council now feels it is imperative to determine the financial burden that the province has downloaded on the taxpayers of Wellington North and thus the need for more detailed information from our engineers.”
Logtenberg told council to also consider posting signs at one-lane bridges to warn motorists and potentially lower the township’s liability should any accidents occur.
Bruce Grant, of BM Ross, took council through road work maintenance and repairs needed.
In his roads review Grant noted some roads may not being seeing an increase in traffic but are subject to heavier vehicles using the roadways.
“Size and weight could result in more maintenance,” he told council, adding, “The connecting link is a definite concern.”
Grant said much of the data on roads was done with specific information on when the road was built and when repairs and upgrades were done. That information, according to Grant, is available for roads in the former West Luther.
“Whoever was involved did mark the time of resurfacing,” he added.
In his report Grant suggested the township could be facing road replacement and repair costs in the next five years of $2.4 million – or about $480,000 annually.
In a five to 10-year period costs could be $1.8 million or $360,000 annually; and in following 10 to 20-year span costs could hit $1.5 million or $300,000 annually.
Grant said a lot will depend on the current condition of the roads, the quality of the roadway base and traffic. His report marks the first time the township has had a comprehensive report on its roads and bridges.
