ELORA – Centre Wellington has initiated a study of five bridges in former Pilkington Township that are all within 20 kilometres of each other and closed to traffic – three of them for more than a decade.
R.J. Burnside engineering firm has been hired to conduct the Schedule ‘B’ Municipal Class Environmental Assessment on the following bridges:
• Bridge 1-P is on Sideroad 5 between 8th Line and 3rd Line West. It was constructed in 1925 and was closed to traffic in 2004. The steel truss superstructure was removed in 2019;
• Bridge 28-P is on Sideroad 11 between 8th Line and 3rd Line West. It too was constructed in 1925 and was closed to traffic in 2006;
• Bridge 30-P is on Sideroad 5 west of Wellington Road 7. It was constructed around 1929 and was closed to traffic in 2016;
• Bridge 32-P is on Noah Road, 0.75km west of 8th Line West. It was built in 1922 and closed to traffic in 2015; and
• Bridge 33-P is on Noah Road, 0.65km west of 8th Line West. It was built in 1925 and closed to traffic in 2015.
“This study will evaluate the role of these structures within the overall transportation network and connectivity in the local community and determine the most suitable alternative at each location,” states a Burnside report presented to council on July 17.
The study will include a structural/technical examination of the structures; an assessment of the natural environment around these structures; a look at the social, heritage and cultural importance of the bridges including community input; and analysis of the capital and operational costs if the bridges are reconstructed.
The study will consider four alternatives: do nothing, remove the structure and create a formal turn-around, rehabilitate the existing structure, or replace the bridge.
“We will look at the area as a whole and determine the best solution for each of the sites,” said Burnside engineer Andrew Dawson.
There will be a public information meeting in August – the date has not been set yet – and Burnside will take the information to the heritage advisory committee meeting in September.
Once it has draft recommendations drawn up, the township will hold a second community meeting.
Burnside will attend a second heritage committee meeting before presenting the final recommendation to council early in the new year.
