Sideroad Bridge 27-WG is being replaced and expanded. The single-lane bridge will be replaced with a larger two-lane structure.
Centre Wellington Township states in a press release, “At nearly 100 years of age, Bridge 27-WG, located on Sideroad 20 between Fifth and Sixth Line in the former Township of West Garafraxa is set to be replaced.”
Built in 1918, the bridge is in severe disrepair and requires replacement.
Distress exists in the form of cracks and missing sections of concrete.
There were load limitations in place for several years prior to the bridge being closed to traffic in 2015, bridge has had load limitations for several years and was closed to traffic in 2015.
Construction work includes replacement of the existing single-lane bridge with a larger free-span, two-lane precast concrete girder bridge and the completion of the realignment of Sideroad 20 along the bridge approaches to suit the wider two-lane bridge.
Bridge abutments, currently located within the bank, full width of the stream, will be relocated further away from the creek so that the banks beneath the new structure will be reinstated and naturalized.
Since the completion of the Class EA in 2014, township staff and its consultants have been working with local residents, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) to develop the preferred concept, detailed design, Ontario Community Infrastructure Funding (OCIF) grant funding applications, permits and approvals so that the bridge can be constructed in 2017.
“Rebuilding this bridge has been made possible by our council’s two per cent dedicated capital levy bridge replacement program established in 2015,” stated Mayor Kelly Linton.
“It is a perfect example of how we are prioritizing our spending on Centre Wellington’s critical infrastructure needs.”
Of particular note, the MNRF have identified this reach of Irvine Creek as having suitable habitat for Redside Dace fish which is a Species-At-Risk under the Endangered Species Act.
The township has received the applicable permits from the MNRF including a Fish Collection License (FCL) for the construction of a cofferdam to allow for the removal of the existing bridge abutments.
Construction began on July 31 and it is anticipated that the new Bridge 27-WG will be open by the end of 2017.
If the weather this summer/fall is poor causing delays, the bridge construction will be paused over the winter and will resume for completion in spring 2018.
