Council here has agreed to proceed with replacement of a bridge on the White’s Junction Trail that was damaged in a major flood last year.
On June 23, 2017 considerable damage was experienced in Minto from a heavy overnight rainstorm that caused massive flooding.
“While much of the damage was in Harriston, there were also problems in Palmerston, Clifford and in Minto rural areas,” states a report that CAO Bill White presented to Minto council on July 3.
“Roads were washed out and culverts, farm drains and fields damaged.”
White added “many repairs have been completed,” but the side trail bridge along White’s Junction Trail was not addressed.
The bridge has been “unpassable” since the flood and the section of trail closed.
“This is a nice section of trail, particularly for users starting in Palmerston as it provides a nice walkable loop crossing through wooded areas and on the former rail line,” White states.
“The cost to remove that bridge – and we do recommend that we remove it – is $20,000. The cost to replace it is $100,000. If we do replace it, then half that $100,000 will be covered by our (insurance) deductible,” White explained.
“I think the trail committee imagined not having the bridge and that things could possibility work just fine without it, although I don’t know we had, at the time, information on how much it would cost to take the bridge out,” White added.
The CAO pointed out that in addition to removing the bridge, the town would probably have to look to “decommission the rail line that we continue to own,” and might consider selling the land.
“I guess I look back on the seven or eight years I’ve been here and we kind of regret letting some of these lands out of our control. So, as much as it would be unfortunate to have to pay the deductible, we could get a replacement bridge and keep that link intact for 50 years from now.”
White explained the town’s insurance deductible for sewage backup claims is only $10,000, but flood insurance carries a higher deductible. He said the town did not have specific flood coverage prior to signing with its current carrier in 2014.
White said another bridge on the White’s Junction Trail, which was replaced after being burned by vandals in 2016, was covered with a lower deductible under fire coverage. That bridge was replaced for about $145,000.
Councillor Dave Turton said the bridge damaged by the 2017 flood “is pretty vital to that trail.” He asked if a narrower bridge could be built to lower costs.
White said the $100,000 estimate was arrived at in consultation with the town’s insurer.
“I think we’d be very foolish not to retain that branch of the trail and not to retain ownership of that branch of the trail,” said deputy mayor Ron Faulkner.
Council received the report and directed staff to work with the town’s insurer to replace the bridge.
