Wow!
Town councillors glad they don’t face bridge bill
“Wow,” said Trent Hills Councillor Rick English shaking his head as he absorbed the stunning sticker price for a new bridge in Campbellford.
English captured the reaction of his seat mates after they listened to an update about plans for a new Northumberland County bridge across the Trent River: “I’m glad it’s a county project. Wow.”
On Tuesday morning, the county’s Director of Public Works Denise Marshall outlined the state of current plans for the bridge project. Councillors were aware of the outlines and the tab, since it was discussed at the county last week.
Some local residents who have opposed the bridge plan attended the meeting but they didn’t have an opportunity to ask questions or comment.
“The current bridge needs to be replaced because it is 57 years old,” English continued. The existing bridge will soon need major rehabilitation that would result in traffic chaos and half-hour detours, but the county faces rising budget and debt levels. The county will consider its 2026 budget on Monday, and the bridge is sure to be a hot topic.
“The numbers are a little shocking, but we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t,” said Mayor Bob Crate.
The county needs help from the federal and provincial governments, English said.
Councillor Dennis Savery noted that local Member of Parliament Philip Lawrence will be speaking to council in October and urged an effort to push him for federal money. The county has applied for a $11.4 million but is awaiting a decision. However, Lawrence is a Conservative who has no leverage over the Liberal government.
The provincial government has already rejected an application a for a $26 million grant and has shown no interest in the latest ask for a $19 million contribution, one-third of the estimated cost.
But at least our local MPP David Piccini is a member of the right provincial party and a cabinet minister so there may be some hope for help.
Later in the meeting, the councillors provided some minor help to the county as they approved demolition of 109 Saskatoon Avenue. The county had purchased that home and three others. The home is on the town’s registry of historic properties, but had not been designated as a historic site.
A report by Planner Cameron Law said the home was built early in the last century but there are others in town of a similar vintage and design.
Councillor Gene Brahaney said he felt a personal connection to the project since in 1968 he worked on bridge construction on a night shift from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m. “It was pretty chilly on those February mornings.”
Councillor Daniel Giddings asked Marshall if the county will be able to afford to repair the existing bridge if it does manage to build a new one.
Marshall explained that the current bridge has needed frequent repairs and is checked annually to ensure it is safe. The cost of the major overhaul will be included in the county’s annual budgets for infrastructure maintenance.
More bridge repairs planned
Since we’re on the topic of bridge repairs, I have a small update on plans to close the bridge over the Trent on County Road 30 in Trent River.
I wrote last January that the county planned to close it for 10 to 12 weeks this summer so it could undergo $1.1 million in emergency repairs. But during the spring county staff decided to undertake temporary repairs and postpone the shutdown and full rehab job until 2026.
Last week, Marshall told me the repair work will be carried out next summer, or as it is better known, construction and forest fire season. It will involve detours sending vehicles to CR 50 or 45.
You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.
Emergency repairs that take 1.5 years to complete.
Government: useless like tits on a bull.