In some respects, the work being done by Centre Wellington to prepare for the future is being overshadowed by another future project – the upcoming replacement of the David Street/Highway 6 bridge in downtown Fergus.
On April 23, as part of a town hall forum Centre Wellington director of infrastructure Colin Baker presentation provided a play-by-play of the year that was, and a look at the year ahead.
Baker noted that Centre Wellington is in the process of ‘rebranding’ its departments wherein what was known as public works is now being called infrastructure services – environmental services (water/waste water) and public works (roads) and engineering.
“2013 was a busy year for us with significant projects on the go.”
He pointed to upgrades of the 2nd Line south of Fergus which he described as part of the “economic backbone” of the community.
Baker said that road sees a lot of truck traffic – a number of them heading to the Jefferson Elora Corporation plant.
He estimated traffic includes about 200 trucks per day.
Baker also described work done in Belwood in 2013.
“We call it the Extreme Belwood Makeover.”
Roadwork included new sidewalks, pavement, upgrades to the storm sewers “and making it a space the community can be proud of,” Baker said.
Baker spoke of other projects within Centre Wellington including work in Elora (Irvine Street, Colborne Street & Gerrie Road, and investigation of the Victoria Street Piers) andFergus (Tower Street and Garafraxa Street).
Baker said the investigation of the piers is important because at some point, plans are in the works for a new pedestrian bridge to be placed on those piers.
“The great News is (the piers) are in excellent shape.”
He said obviously the big project in Fergus last year was related to Tower Street and the replacement of the bridge across the Grand River.
While the bridge replacement was a Wellington County project, the township had a significant role with the replacement of trunk sewers and other services.
This year projects include numerous projects around the township from work on rural roads.
Baker described a cluster of projects in Elora – tied in with preparations for the Landmark development at the Elora Mill.
Part of this includes work on Price Street and the expansion of the Clyde Street sewage pumping station (near the LCBO building).
He noted the township is taking a block by block approach improving storm sewers from the river to Colborne Street.
“The plan is to eventually revamp Colborne, which is an important collector road in the community. We’re slowly getting the pieces in place.”
Baker said more work is planned on Water Street between Bridge and High Streets and going over ideas with the community.
The intent is to bring that section of road up to modern standards and formalizing the pedestrian crossing at the pedestrian bridge to Bissell Park.
Another future plan includes the installation of sidewalks on one side of the road.
In addition, work continues at the Elora Wastewater Treatment Plant to service future growth in the community.
Baker explained that while the outer buildings are essentially complete, the township is working to commission the new equipment.
He said one of the benefits is that the upgraded plant will have a generator to provide full emergency backup power.
In Fergus, work includes sewer and water work around Norman Craig Square (the Fergus cenotaph). Similar work is included for the area known as St. James Square.
Hill Street West will also see some reconstruction.
“Plus, we cannot forget there are a number of subdivisions on the go including Strathlea at the north end, nearby Beatty Hollow and the servicing required as a first stept in the relocation of Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
Bridges too, remain a concern for the municipality.
“We have a lot of bridge structures in this community,” Baker said.
The township has about 105 bridges.
Two are undergoing an environmental assessment, plus in recent weeks there has been repair work to some of the other bridges.
However this year, the township is also getting set for general bridge inspections of all its structures.
In addition Baker said the detailed structural assessment for the David Street/Highway 6 bridge is completed.
That report, which has been submitted to the Ministry of Transportation, indicates that bridge replacement is required.
In addition, the township plans to repair erosion around the bridge abutments.
“The bridge is near the end of its service life.”
In the past, some cost would have been covered through the provincial Connecting Link program which offset capital costs of provincial highways traversing urban communities.
“Unfortunately that program no longer exists,” Baker said.
Comments from the floor included questions as to whether the municipality had plans in place to have another bridge in place while the St. David Street bridge is being replaced.
The concern was how larger transport trucks would be able to negotiate the right angle downtown intersections.
And if population estimates accurately push Centre Wellington past the 40,000 mark, Baker was told another bridge is needed to relieve the traffic.
Baker said the idea has definitely been thought about.
“It would be a big project.”
Baker said a Fergus bypass project is identified in the development charges bylaw and in the long-term capital forecast.
“But I don’t think we have an exact timeframe.”
Centre Wellington CAO Andy Goldie said that in the past, the municipality has spoken with the MTO on the idea because it was part of the Connecting Link.
“The MTO has expressed no interest in looking at any other alternate routes.”
He added that with the province downloading the portions of its highways in urban areas, it makes things even more difficult locally.
