ELORA – Centre Wellington’s heritage advisory committee wants more background information on bridge 16-WG before making a recommendation to council on whether it should be removed, repaired, or replaced.
The committee heard from township engineer Adam Gilmore at its June 8 meeting that the bridge is in poor condition and was closed this spring after an inspection revealed the structure is “spreading” and has now been deemed unsafe.
“We’ve been monitoring it for some time,” Gilmore said, “and over time the retaining walls have been moving apart from each other. Now it’s no longer safe and we closed the bridge in the spring.”
The bridge spans Irvine Creek on the Fifth Line between Centre Wellington Road 19 and Sideroad 15 just north of Belwood Lake.
It’s a rare example of a solid spandrel, concrete-arch bridge that was built in 1910. There are only 11 bridges of this type still standing in Ontario and four of them are in Centre Wellington.
“Many of these early bridges have been replaced due to narrow lane width, structural deterioration and to meet modern traffic needs,” reads the report by consultants McIntosh Perry.
“Bridge 16-WG is one of the oldest of its type and is a rare survivor.”
Gilmore said the bridge was under consideration for replacement in 2013 and a lower-class environmental assessment study was initiated.
Now the township will conduct a municipal class environmental study that will re-examine the technical condition of the bridge as well as social, cultural and financial considerations.
Gilmore said there will be a virtual open house in late summer and the matter will return to heritage committee for a recommendation in November and then to council for approvals.
Detail design should go to council early in 2022 with construction in the 2023 budget.
“If this is the oldest and the rarest, it would be nice to save it,” said committee member Sherry Baris.
“I would like at least one of them saved.
“I’d like to get a feel for the condition of the other three,” said committee member Don Evoy.
“The one in the best shape would make sense to rehabilitate.”
Gilmore agreed to get this information as well as the status of the other bridges in Ontario before the public meeting in late summer.
