While the Lord Selkirk Bridge in Wallaceburg will be closed for a few days next week, Chatham-Kent officials say a long-term plan for the structure is still in the works.
Municipal officials say the McNaughton Avenue bridge will be completely closed to traffic from Tuesday, February 28 at 7 a.m. until Thursday, March 2, at 6 p.m.
Adam Sullo, director of engineering and transportation, said this upcoming repair work on the Wallaceburg bridge was already planned.
“When we were doing the inspection we noticed one particular area in the stringers for the floor beams that needed to be repaired, so that we didn’t have such a restricted load posting,” Sullo told the Sydenham Current.
A 15-ton load restriction has been in place on the bridge since October.
“There will still be a load posting after we are finished, but we will be able to raise that load posting,” Sullo said, adding that a 15/25/40 ton triple load posting will be implemented after the work is completed.
“In addition we are just waiting to finalize a detailed inspection report we did on the entire structure this past fall which includes the structural, electrical, mechanical and the operation of the bridge as well.”
Sullo added: “We are looking at what our long term plans are with the structure. We feel that it will either need rehabilitation, likely rehabilitation in the next few years. We are just trying to understand the full scope of what that will be so we can plan that over the next year.”
Sullo said they are still trying to evaluate whether a new structure is needed or not, or rehabilitating the bridge, which is over 70-years-old.
“We feel that there probably is the potential to extend the life of the structure a bit longer but we want to make sure that whatever we are doing is the most cost effective,” he said.
“We don’t want to spend a lot of money on a structure that we are just going to have to replace in a short time later. That is what we are trying to look at now. To determine the most cost effective approach to this.”
Sullo said these types of decisions are being made all over Chatham-Kent.
“Big bridges, small bridges, every piece of a structure that Chatham-Kent is involved with are always looking at whether is makes sense to extend the life or replace that asset,” he said.
“That applies to this bridge and any other bridge in the Municipality. We do the same thing for our roads. We are trying to do the right thing at the right time, so that we are not wasting money.”
The detour route for trucks next week when the construction is taking place is from Base Line, to Old Glass Road, to Mason Street and to Dufferin Avenue.
All other traffic is encouraged to use McNaughton Avenue, to Gillard Street, to Queen Street, to Murray Street, to Margaret Avenue and to Wellington Street.
