Final bridge design being drawn slowly

County again extends deadline for completion of its bridge plan

Looking east towards Second Street from what will be the middle of the roundabout.

It’s taking months longer than originally announced to complete the final design for the Hector Macmillan Bridge in Campbellford, but the county says the overall project is on schedule.

A report that will be discussed at Northumberland County’s public works committee on Monday, June 3 says that the final plan is only 60 per cent complete and is expected to be 90 per cent done by the fall.

A year ago, the county unveiled a revamp of the original plan that included changes following public comments and said that the final design would be ready early in 2024. That date has kept getting pushed back and now a final version has an end of year target.

The report says during this year and next the county will undertake land acquisition needed to accommodate changes to the roadway. “There are a total of 16 partial properties and four full properties required for the bridge construction and road improvements,” said Kate Campbell, Director of Communications for Northumberland County. “The properties are located on Bridge Street, Alma Street, Grand Road, Frank Street and Second Street, as well as property needed from Parks Canada at the roundabout.

“All property owners have been informed about how much property is required. The preferred approach is to work with the homeowners and negotiate a fair purchase/sale – expropriation is considered a last resort.”

It appears from the plans on the county website that two homes will be required on the south side of Second St. at the end of the bridge. The remaining space from those lots will be turned into a parkette alongside the bridge.

The county update says its design budget is $1.8 million. On May 14, Trent Hills council agreed to spend $267,000 on design for changes to Frank Street and Saskatoon Avenue that it is responsible for to accommodate the new bridge.

The update also says changes to sewer and water lines and construction of the bridge will start sometime in 2025 to 2027, which is the original timeline. However, that’s subject to getting funding assistance from the provincial and federal governments, something that may be problematic given a likely change in leadership in Ottawa.

“The final design package will include the plan for sequence of construction work,” Campbell said in an earlier email. “Once underway, this extensive construction project will take place over a two- to three-year period.”

By the way, I’ve been told by a town staffer that the bridge will not be named after the late mayor Hector, but I still think it makes sense to remember that he was the driving force to getting it built, even though some of his neighbours on Frank St. did not agree with his plan.

He stuck to his vision, loudly at times in public meetings, even though while sitting on his porch having a smoke and working on his laptop, he could see the homes of those who vigorously disagreed.

Some opponents are still waging an email and letter campaign to persuade higher levels of government not to support funding for the bridge and are hopeful that any delay will help their case.

I should also note that I have a personal interest in all this since I live on Second St. about 50 metres east of where the bridge will end. My property is zoned to allow commercial usage and given the Ford government’s recent announcement, I am contemplating turning my dining room into a convenience store and selling beer to drivers waiting to cross the bridge. Almost drive through service.

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Clarification on Hastings flooding issue

I’ve written a couple of stories about the rezoning of a property in Hastings that has been subject to flooding during the spring. Debra McMullan, who owns 14 Division Street West at the intersection with Bridge St. North, emailed me to say that the flooding has only affected one house with water entering her neighbour’s basement.

“I would like to clarify with you that at no time in the eight years I have owned this house has my home flooded,” she wrote. Water accumulates on her lawn and on some other adjacent properties.

The vacant property that was rezoned is just west of McMullan’s home.