New bridges proposed as part of Holland Marsh drainage project

By Miriam King

Posted 1 year ago

The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will work with the Holland Marsh Drainage System Joint Municipal Services Board to replace two bridges leading to the marsh – at the 5th Line and Canal Road, and 5 Sideroad and Canal Road.

The 5th Line bridge must be replaced because the canal is being relocated; the bridge at 5 Sideroad is being replaced because of its age and construction. Total cost to rebuild the two bridges is estimated at $2.448 million. The Town has received $1.168 million from the MIII grant that can be used for bridge replacement this year, but will have to find the remainder (almost $1.3 million) in 2011.

Councillor Mark Contois asked why the bridge replacement was being co-ordinated by the Joint Municipal Services Board, and not the Town.

Director of Engineering, Debbie Korolnek advised that the Board was taking on the role to ensure that there are no conflicts in scheduling. For everything to go smoothly, the bridge work must be completed before the canal relocation gets underway; if the Town's bridge contractor causes a delay in canal construction, she warned, the Town could face issues of liability – and costs.

The Board also has information needed by the structural engineers, through its own engineering work, said drainage superintendent Frank Jonkman Jr. "We have the hydraulics data, we have the volumes, we have the soils data... All this information will be shared with the bridge engineer." He pointed out that at the end of the project, "The bridges are going to be turned over to the Town."

The price tag for the 5 SR bridge includes $48,000 for a sidewalk, an additional expenditure defended by Councillor Mark Contois. "The sidewalk needs to be implemented on this bridge to ensure safe passage for pedestrians," both accessing Springdale Christian Reformed Church, connecting with a proposed new trail system, he said.