This municipality will spend $145,000 to replace the Palmerston Rail Trail bridge, which was destroyed by fire in the summer.
Minto council approved the project, using the least expensive of two options provided, at its Dec. 20 meeting.
On Aug. 6, the bridge, located on a former railway line, now a trail, near the intersection of White’s Road and the 3rd Line of Minto, was destroyed in a fire.
Local police and fire officials said the blaze was deliberately set.
On Aug. 15, council directed staff to work with the town’s insurance company and engineering firm on a plan to replace the structure.
On Dec. 20, council received a staff report outlining two options presented by Triton Engineering.
Option one is a two-metre (6.5 feet) steel deck with anti-slip coating at a cost of $145,000, while option two is a pre-fabricated bridge structure with a four-metre (13 foot) deck at $315,000.
“Option one provides for reasonable bridge use by most trail users,” states the staff report from CAO Bill White.
The report notes the two-metre width would only accommodate a “side by side” or Gator for maintenance.
“A wider bridge is needed to accept a larger maintenance vehicle and the current pedestrian railing design would not provide an adequate barrier for vehicle traffic,” the report explains.
“The bridge can be accessed from either side for general maintenance. While it would be nice to be able to drive over the bridge, it is not critical. It may be that option one can be modified to allow a pick-up truck to drive over, but this would encompass a different design criterion and come at a much higher cost.”
“So you don’t think the train’s coming back?” quipped councillor Ron Elliott.
“I don’t think the train’s coming back any time soon,” said Mayor George Bridge.
Council received the report and directed Triton Engineering to proceed with option one. Construction is expected to take place in the spring of 2017.
