CENTRE WELLINGTON – Three local bridges will be getting replaced, but at a Centre Wellington council meeting Monday, much discussion surrounded the lone bridge to be left behind.
The recommendation comes on the back of what township manager of engineering Adam Gilmore called a “robust” network study. The bridge to be removed without replacement is known as bridge ‘3-E,’ located along a “bowstring arch” on Sixth Line near Sideroad 30.
Gilmore says the pattern of reopening bridges is one he hopes to see continue.
The other three bridges are located on Third Line and Fourth, with two on Third in close proximity to Sideroad 30, the other near Eramosa Garafraxa Townline.
Most comments from council surrounded the perceived difficulties emergency services would have getting to nearby properties to the bridge.
Councillor Barb Evoy was one of many who also was looking to protect the agricultural community throughout this process.
Gilmore reiterated public input came from several well attended events by those in the agricultural sector.
The other common concern from council with the removal of this bridge, being the aforementioned EMS routing issues, Gilmore says was taken into account as well.
The other three new bridges will have a similar design, one that can be found pictured in the township report on the bridge study. Staff estimate the work is still in the distance, with the hope that these bridges can begin to be removed in about three years.
They also say it would be a hefty price tag to fix the fourth bridge, adding 3.2 million dollars to a baseline cost of four million.
