Government Road traffic still facing detours
TEHKUMMAH—Tehkummah Reeve Gary Brown has confirmed the Government Road bridge replacement, over the Manitou River at Michael’s Bay, won’t be completed by August 31 as initially planned, largely due to factors outside the control of all parties—the township, the engineer and the contractor—including multiple rain out days and a shortage of steel. The steel is required for the fabrication of steel beams for the bridge deck.
“Even if the steel comes next week,” Reeve Brown, “they need 28 days to clear the top. That takes us into the end of September.”
Engineer Michael Kresin disclosed at a recent meeting with town council that construction will continue at least into the first part of October. “We’re hoping to have an official opening planned for November,” said Reeve Brown.
While an earlier engineering report suggested the bridge would not need replacement for another five years, a 2013 report obtained during the development of an asset management plan for the community, determined the bridge needed to be replaced immediately. “I wasn’t there, but the contractor said when they removed the top part of the bridge the cement just crumbled,” the reeve explained.
“There’s a lot of controversy about this project,” Reeve Brown continued. “Tehkummah is a small township. We’re doing the best we can with the situation we’re in. It’s looking good. The abutments are ready to be backfilled. The slots are in place for the beams. Some of the old bridge still needs to be removed but that shouldn’t take long. Hopefully the weather will be good and they can get the concrete poured.”
In a letter to this newspaper, resident Larry Killens expressed concern about the project. “I became angered with the fact that the winning bid is being considered to be allowed to be violated and it should be honoured as other companies were turned down with their offerings and perhaps would have prepared for any obstacles that this company obviously did not, at our expense. The pedestrian bridge was not 20,000 dollars but indeed in excess,” he wrote. Mr. Killens requested “honest disclosure and answers to our concerns.”
Not all residents agree with that sentiment. An unnamed Michael’s Bay resident said, “it had to be done.” Another resident remembered taking the school bus over the bridge in the 1960s and said she will feel safer with the new bridge. In reality, this is not just a Tehkummah issue. The project will benefit all residents of Manitoulin and visitors who use the Government Road bridge.
A written report from the engineer is expected this week which will give a more educated estimate of completion date. “At the end of the day, the job’s going to get done,” said Reeve Brown.
by Lori Thompson
