Centre Wellington to remove one bridge, replace two others
Two of the bridges have been closed for many years
ELORA – Centre Wellington council agreed with a staff report and voted on Feb. 9 to replace two bridges and remove another in former West Garafraxa.
The bridges are within a 20-kilometre radius of each other. Two (bridges 29-WG and 30-WG) cross Sideroad 15 between 1st and 6th Line; while bridge 21-WG crosses 1st Line just north of Sideroad 15.
All three are single lane structures that are approaching 100 years old. Bridges 21-WG and 30-WG have been closed to vehicle traffic for many years and bridge 29-WG has a load limitation of five tonnes.
The study of the bridges revealed the closure of 21-WG has led to emergency response delays, which is why it is recommended for reconstruction.
Replacing 29-WG would improve transportation for commuters and area farmers, engineering services coordinator Adam Dickieson explained to council.
Bridge 30-WG is surrounded by wetlands and removing it will preserve the ecological footprint, he said. In terms of priority, 29-WG would be done first; 21-WG second and 30-WG last, he added.
Dickieson said there is funding in the 2026 budget for design of 29-WG with the intent of replacing it in 2027.
Councillor Barb Evoy said she’s heard from farmers who would like 30-WG to also reopen, which would open up Sideroad 15 to east-west traffic.
She said closing the bridge forces farmers to go up to Sideroad 20 or down to Wellington Road 19 to catch an east-west route. Similarly, the bridge closure has also cut off from traffic a small manufacturing business near 6th Line.
“This is a thriving farming area with significant agricultural activity,” Evoy said. “I can’t not hear what the farming community is saying about this bridge.”
Councillor Bronwynne Wilton noted the majority of comments were in favour of removing 30-WG or retaining it for active transportation.
“It’s been closed for 15 years,” Wilton said. “People have figured out other ways to get around.”
