West sidewalk access on downtown bridge reopens this weekend in Elora

Residents and visitors in Elora will be able to take a longer look at Mill Street as the west sidewalk on the Badley Bridge will reopen to pedestrian traffic this weekend.

Wellington County's construction manager for the roads division of engineering services Mark Eby said in a recent email that the west sidewalk will be completed this week and will be open to pedestrian traffic for the long weekend.

Next week the east sidewalk will be closed to complete repairs, but anticipated the work will be complete by weekend of May 23.

Eby noted that should a lane closure be required, the county’s contractor will have traffic control in place to maintain two way traffic as required.

On June 1 (weather depending), the bridge will be closed at 9am for two days and will reopen early Wednesday morning.

Depending on the time required to remove the materials, the bridge may not be opened until after the morning rush.  The closure will allow the contractor to safely repair the concrete curbs along the bridge.

Eby adds that when the road is closed to complete the curb repairs, the contractor will try their best to keep both sidewalks open as much as possible.  Short closures may be required as a safety measure as the existing concrete is chipped away.

Eby adds that Wellington County hopes that the repairs that have and will take place will hold until arrangements can be made to replace the bridge in 2017 or 2018.

More details about the bridge replacement will become available as the county and its consultants work through the design process.