WELLINGTON COUNTY – A $1-million tender for rehabilitation of two bridges on Jones Baseline in Guelph-Eramosa has been approved by Wellington County council.
A road committee recommendation to award the tender for work on Armstrong Bridge and Hagen’s Bridge to Marbridge Construction Ltd. of Mississauga was approved at the Jan. 28 regular council meeting.
The company’s bid of $972,809 for the project was the lowest of four submitted.
The County of Wellington has awarded a tender for rehabilitation work on Armstrong Bridge and Hagen’s Bridge in Guelph-Eramosa.
Work planned on the Armstrong Bridge includes replacement of deck fascia, soffit, abutment, concrete curbs, posts and steel handrails and installation of new steel traffic railing, deck waterproofing, excavation and placement of asphalt.
The Hagan’s Bridge project involves replacement and repair of repair concrete barrier, replacement of steel beam guide rail including connection to structure, cleaning and coating truss structural steel, replacement of expansion joint seal and installation of a railing extension.
Bosworth bridge EA
An environmental assessment on the Bosworth bridge in Mapleton is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
“It has been recognized for many years that the Bosworth Bridge on Wellington Road 7 crossing the Conestogo River in the Township of Mapleton has been in a state of decline,” states a report by Wellington County roads manager Joe de Koning.
He notes numerous engineering reports have been conducted on the bridge in the past 10 years and the EA is expected to get underway “in the immediate future.”
A key component of the study will be consultation with interested stakeholders, including public agencies and Aboriginal communities, the report notes.
A public information centre will be held to present and review study findings and alternatives, and to discuss issues related to impacts of the design and mitigation measures.
At the conclusion of the study, an environmental study report will be made available for 30 days for public review and comment.
Funding for the EA has been previously budgeted by the county.
Weight restrictions updated
Updating of a bylaw regulating weight restrictions on county bridges is a “good news story,” says roads committee chair councillor Andy Lennox.
Lennox noted at the Jan. 28 county council meeting a new bylaw is needed because a number of bridges have been upgraded, reducing the number that are load-restricted.
“The county’s existing bylaw requires updating as structures have been replaced since 2016 such as the Gordonville Bridge in 2018, Salem Bridge in 2019, Badley Bridge in 2020, including three boundary bridges on local roads that were rehabilitated and have since been returned to member municipalities,” states a report from technical services supervisor Pasquale Costanzo.
There are seven county bridges that still require weight restrictions, including two in Mapleton, two in Minto and one each in Centre Wellington, Guelph-Eramosa and Puslinch.
