No budget to save Wilmot bridge

‘Funding required to move the structure would really be outside the funding agreement’

Saving the Bridge Street truss bridge over the Nith River in Wilmot is going to cost the township money it hasn’t planned to spend.

At a meeting Monday, council heard from staff that plans to relocate the beloved truss bridge haven’t been budgeted for as part of the $3.5 million slated to replace the bridge. The bulk of that is coming from the provincial and federal governments.

“The funding required to move the structure would really be outside the funding agreement we have with the province and the feds,” said Jeff Molenhuis, the township’s director of public works and engineering.

The township was awarded about $3 million to replace the single span bridge and approved this week the environmental assessment (EA) to build a new multi-span, slab ongirder bridge.

The bridge is often closed due to floods and oversized vehicles colliding with it.

The community has expressed a desire to move the bridge elsewhere rather than simply demolish it.

“There is a lot of community interest in the preserving that bridge,” Coun. Angie Hallman said.

Staff said demolition would cost between $100,000 and $200,000.

The cost to move it and use it for pedestrians is estimated at $650,000, according to a staff report. Some of the demolition and removal cost could be covered under the government funding for the project. Staff expect to report back in June on what will be done with the bridge.

Coun. Cheryl Gordijk questioned how far council was willing to go on costs.

“We’ve seen that we’re having to tighten our purse strings on some of the other commitments we have … do we have a top-end limit that we would say no we’re not going to do this relocation?” she said.

Ultimately that decision lies with council.

The EA is now available for public comment for 45 days.