Until a final decision on what to do with Stroy’s Bridge is made, Puslinch council wants to better restrict access to the structure due to safety concerns.
Mayor Dennis Lever said people often just climb over the existing barricades to access the century-old bridge, which spans the Speed River on a closed portion of Sideroad 10 about one kilometre north of Laird Road West.
“I wouldn’t say it’s prohibitive,” Lever said of the barricades. The rest of council agreed the township needs to take quick action to prevent people from travelling across the bridge.
“The safety and the liability are paramount,” said councillor Jerry Schmidt.
The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in the early 1990s and remained open to pedestrian traffic until further deterioration caused the township to close it entirely in 2008.
Originally, township officials wanted to demolish the bridge, but over the last several years a campaign to save the structure as a pedestrian bridge gained steam, both on council and in the community.
The township has set aside $100,000 in the 2011 budget to address the issue, though council has not yet made a decision on the matter.
Hans Groh and Amanda Pepping, township consultants with the engineering firm Gamsby and Mannerow, suggested again at council’s last April meeting that rehabilitation of the current structure is not recommended.
That route – including the installation of a new deck with fencing, repair of existing abutments, and removal of components serving no structural purpose – was estimated last year to cost $199,000. And Groh told council it would likely extend the life of the bridge by only “another 10 years.”
Instead Pepping and Groh have recommended either removing the structure (2010 estimate: $145,000) or constructing a brand new pedestrian bridge ($550,000).
Pepping suggested the township host a public information session to provide feedback and address concerns in order to complete the ongoing environmental assessment process.
Councillor Susan Fielding said she is in favour of a public meeting because residents have been engaged on the issue.
“This is very near and dear to a lot of people’s hearts,” she said. But first, councillors stressed the need for restricting access to the structure, which Groh confirmed is no longer safe even for pedestrian traffic.
Lever said township staff and Gamsby and Mannerow officials will work together to improve the bridge barriers and also perhaps put up signs.
