Centre Wellington will not face simultaneous construction on two of its main urban bridges in 2018.
Instead, the St. David Street bridge work in Fergus will for forward in 2018 but replacement of the Badley/Metcalfe Street bridge in Elora won’t take place until the following year.
On April 18, managing director of infrastructure services Colin Baker updated Centre Wellington councillors on the proposed projects and timeframes.
Baker said the township was recently informed by the province that its application for a $2.2 million grant to rehabilitate the St. David Street bridge in Fergus was successful.
Baker explained the grant covers 90 per cent of construction costs. The total project cost is about $2.53 million.
“It is still the very early stages of the project, but I wanted to provide an update as to what we’ve been up to,” he said.
Baker said there have been discussions with government officials and bridge engineers to begin mapping the process.
The first step includes an environmental assessment which involves public consultation, an evaluation of various design options and potential mitigation measures.
That is going to happen this year and will kick off late in the spring, Baker said.
He emphasized the work on St. David Street is a smaller-scale project than work a few years ago on the Tower Street bridge in Fergus.
“A lot of people in Fergus see that as the benchmark or reference for bridge construction,” he said. However, Baker stressed “this is a much smaller scale project.”
The Tower Street bridge rebuild was roughly 12 months from start to finish.
But Baker said that project included replacement of the bridge, sanitary sewers, water mains, major utilities and the abutment infrastructures holding up the bridge. In addition, there was major road reconstruction as well, Baker said.
For the St. David Street bridge project there are no sewers, water main connections and the extent of roadwork is limited.
Baker said the existing abutments will remain in place.
He added much of the work is limited to replacement of supporting girders, the deck, traffic barriers and sidewalks.
“We are going to work really closely with the local BIA. We’re going to identify the detour routes and develop plans prior to construction – whether it involves signs, communications, banners … we want to promote all that the downtown has to offer.”
The intent is to let visitors know the downtown will be open and accessible during construction.
Baker hopes construction will begin early 2018.
Councillor Stephen Kitras asked about the timing in connection with the proposed bridge replacement in Elora.
Baker said before the township applied for the St. David Street bridgework, there were discussions with Wellington County regarding the rebuild of the Badley/Metcalfe Street bridge.
The county agreed to put that work back a year to 2019.
“We’re not going to close two bridges over the Grand River in the same year,” Baker said.
Councillor Fred Morris then noted when Centre Wellington first considered the work in Fergus it also included roadwork on St. David Street as far north as Edinburgh Street.
Morris asked when that portion of the road would be repaired and what the plan was to navigate trucks through Fergus during the construction.
“From what I see of the bridges in Fergus, only the St. David Street bridge can handle the truck traffic … especially big trucks,” said Morris.
Baker responded the asphalt on St. David Street is in rough shape from St. Andrew Street north.
“The good News is that it is part of the Connecting Link and so we have the opportunity to make that part of a future application,” Baker said.
When that happens is not known.
As to detour routes, Baker said the truck detour routes “would likely be (from Highway 6 south of Fergus) up Wellington Road 7 to Wellington Road 17 in Alma then east to Highway 6 at the signal lights.”
Baker said that information would be verified as more information comes in.
“It is something MTO would have to approve as we move forward,” he said.
Councillor Steven VanLeeuwen said it is important to note the BIA would like information from any business owner who feels he or she will be affected.
Councillor Mary Lloyd added there are residents the construction work will affect directly as well. She asked what avenues would be available to them.
Baker said though it is in the early stages, he encouraged residents and business owners to contact the municipality to ensure they receive notices or project updates.
Lloyd added, “this is big News for Centre Wellington and this is going to be a big project.”
