Irvine Street bridge reopens to traffic

Last week, the Irvine Street bridge reopened for crossing.  
The bridge deck, concrete arches and railings have been restored and the entire surface of the structure has been treated with a coating that should protect the bridge from deterioration.  
Rehabilitation began in April.
The Irvine Street bridge is the second bridge project to utilize the township’s 2 per cent capital levy partnered with the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.
The program allows the township to rebuild 11 bridges over the next decade which  are either closed or at risk of closing.
“The opening of this bridge demonstrates our commitment to both heritage protection and infrastructure renewal,” said Mayor Kelly Linton.  
Because of the heritage significance of bowstring arch building techniques in the township, Heritage Centre Wellington approached council to designate the bridge under the Ontario Heritage Act, which it did in July 2014.
Together, the Township and Heritage Centre Wellington, an advisory committee to council, placed a pair of information plaques along Irvine Street to the north and south of the bridge.