Snowmobile/pedestrian bridge to be replaced at $70,000
Clearview council has approved engineering work for the replacement of a pedestrian and snowmobile bridge on Concession 2, at a cost of $70,000.
The cost of the bridge replacement is estimated at an additional $500,000.
As a result of a routine inspection, a load limit was placed on the bridge in 2018, and then closed in 2020 due to substantial deterioration of the structure, located east of County Road 10.
Given three options, council opted to go with the prefabricated light vehicle/snowmobile trail bridge (with a 15-tonne load limit), rather than installing a culvert to accommodate vehicular traffic. The other options ranged in price from $800,000 to $1.2 million.
Deputy director of public works Dan Perreault noted that the roadway east of the bridge is underwater for several months in the spring and early summer each year due to flooding and that significant roadwork would be required to facilitate any other option. There are three residential properties located on McKinnon Road that are now cut off from the township due to the bridge closure.
The funding will come from the Capital Bridge Replacement Reserve, with $70,000 withdrawn in 2023 and $500,000 in 2024.
Council and staff have been discussing whether or not sufficient funds are being tucked away for future bridge repairs. Currently, $788,000 is contributed to the reserve annually, bringing it to about $2,500,000. With 73 bridges and culverts in the township, everyone is wondering if it is enough? The scheduled replacement of the Collingwood Street Bridge comes with an estimated price tag of $3,453,089.
