A rebuilt Niska Road bridge over the Speed River is still far from completion.
On Jan. 10, Puslinch councillors reviewed Guelph city correspondence on the municipal class environmental assessment (EA) to improve Niska Road.
Segments of the road and Niska Road bridge are deteriorating.
An EA completed in 2015, recommended reconstructing Niska Road from Ptarmigan Drive to the city limits and reconstructing the bridge as a two-lane crossing with considerations for pedestrians and cyclists.
In December 2015, Guelph council requested staff to:
– develop a public consultation process for the detailed design of the bridge to address truck traffic and vehicle speeds;
– refer Heritage Guelph’s recommendation to designate the Niska Road/Hanlon Creek Conservation precinct a cultural heritage landscape to the IDE committee for consideration; and
– investigate preservation of the superstructure of the current Bailey-style bridge and work with Heritage Guelph and Puslinch Township on a recommendation for repurposing the bridge in the community.
Including bike lanes in the final design is a requirement by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
The city is also required to share why the final design was chosen and to submit the final design, rationale and documentation on public consultation to the director of the Environmental Approvals Branch before construction takes place.
Construction schedule
Niska Road reconstruction will be completed in three phases. The road is expected to reopen in early 2019, weather and schedules permitting.
Phase one, which includes the reconstruction of Niska Road from Ptarmigan Drive to 40 metres east of the existing bridge, is expected to start this spring, with completion by August 2018.
Phase two involves the replacement of the existing bridge with a new two-lane bridge that incorporates a bike and pedestrian paths.
Phase three will see the completion of the project, including final surface paving, completion of the bridge and tree planting.
Expanding the existing bridge means some trees in the area will have to be removed and replanted at a later date. Tree removals will take place prior to April 2018 to avoid impacting breeding birds.
Wildlife crossings will be installed for this project to help minimize wildlife deaths on Niska Road, as per the Environmental Impact Study recommendations.
Puslinch councillor John Sepulis asked public works director Don Creed if there was an update on discussions between Puslinch and the city regarding maintenance agreements of the roads.
“Not at this point,” responded Creed.
He said there’s been no further discussion between the city with Puslinch and Guelph-Eramosa. He agreed there a maintenance contract is needed for that section of Niska Road.
Mayor Dennis Lever said the speed and volume along the road would affect maintenance, adding more volume could qualify a transfer to Wellington County.
“As the volume continues to increase … when it becomes a two-lane bridge that volume may change further,” he said.
Sepulis said some residents have voiced concerns about potential infiltration to the Speed River.
Lever added some residents also had concerns about the potential of future development in the area.
