The rehabilitation project for the Lord Selkirk Bridge in Wallaceburg is set to begin on Monday, February 4.
Municipal officials say the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has now secured a contractor for the rehabilitation of the bridge.
“Complete closure of the bridge will commence February 4, 2019 with an anticipated completion date of August 2019,” municipal officials said in a media release.
“The bridge will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for the duration of the project.”
Municipal officials say for marine traffic, boats that require the bridge to be lifted will not be able to pass until June 2019.
“One leaf of the bridge will be operational to allow marine traffic to pass from June 2019 until the completion of the project.”
The detour routes will be as follows:
Highway #40/heavy traffic
– Murray Street (Hwy #40) – Base Line – Old Glass Road – Mason Street – Arnold Street – Dufferin Ave
Local/commercial traffic
– Dufferin Avenue – Wellington Street – Fork Street – Margaret Avenue – Murray Street (Hwy #40) to Reaume Avenue
“Please note that there will be temporary traffic signals at the intersection of Murray Street and Reaume Avenue to accommodate increased traffic for the duration of the project,” municipal officials say.
For updates on this and all other projects within Chatham-Kent, visit www.chatham-kent.ca/constructionprojects.
Background
The rehabilitation project for the Lord Selkirk Bridge in Wallaceburg received unanimous approval from Chatham-Kent Council on Monday, December 17.
A tender in the amount of $5.3-million was awarded to Landform Civil Infrastructures Inc.
Staff said in a report the rehabilitation involves structural, mechanical, and electrical repairs which will allow this structure to continue to operate as a moveable bridge while achieving the overall goal of removal of the current load posting, which has been in place since November of 2016.
Chris Thibert, director of engineering and transportation, said one of the two spans will be operable for navigation season in the water.
There is an “additional term of the contract to ensure that the bridge was fully accessible for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic for WAMBO,” Thibert said.
“That was in fact a term in the conditions set forward in the report and in the contract that WAMBO is a very important event and we are trying to ensure that we accommodate that event.”
Staff says the contract consists of:
– Rehabilitation / replacement of various structural steel components.
– Rehabilitation of existing concrete abutments, concrete wing-walls, concrete deck and asphalt wearing surface
– Rehabilitation / replacement of steel barriers
– Balance Bridge counterweights
– Rework of the Main Pinion support to correct gear tooth meshing.
– Adjust span lock machinery
– Adjust rear span stops to align leaf tips and other maintenance items.
– Replace Control console, replace various controls
– Replace PLC, replace two leaf drive VFD’s, replace high speed wireless radio transmitter/receiver equipment.
– Install replacement limit switches (rockers, jacks and tail locks); uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
– Install diesel generator set and automatic transfer switch.
Staff said in a report this rehabilitation will provide approximately 25 years of service.
At that point in time, another rehabilitation of the same magnitude will likely be possible.
A completely replaced structure, at a value of approximately $21,000,000, will provide 75 years of service with a major rehabilitation at approximately 38 years.
The bridge structure is part of the MTO Connecting Link roadway network and received $3-million in funding to assist with the rehabilitation.
The remainder of the project costs came from the Bridge Lifecycle Reserve.
