LITTLE CURRENT—With the release of a notice of study completion in relation to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) planning, preliminary design and class environmental assessment (Class EA) study for the Swing Bridge for public comment, a Manitoulin municipal leader wants to know what the next step in the entire process is.
“I see that the ministry (MTO) has released a final study completion in the swing bridge and that it is available to the public for viewing,” said Lee Hayden, Reeve of Gordon/Barrie Island. “This sounds like all the studies are complete, but there is no indication of what it means. What happens next” asked Reeve Hayden.
“And now I understand that the ministry is doing an inspection of the bridge (this week). I just don’t know what to make of all of this,” said Reeve Hayden. “It will be interesting to know where this goes from here, once the public comment period for the study is over.”
“The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has undertaken a planning, preliminary design, and class environmental assessment (Class EA) study for the replacement of the Highway 6 Little Current Swing Bridge,” the MTO notice reads. “The bridge provides the only year-round highway access between the community of Little Current and Manitoulin Island and mainland areas of Northern Ontario. The existing bridge is nearing the end of its service life. The purpose of this study was to identify a recommended plan that addressed current and future transportation needs at the bridge crossing.”
“Based on the findings of this class EA study, the recommended plan includes the replacement of the Little Current Swing Bridge with a new, through-truss swing bridge situated on a new alignment located approximately 80 metres west of the existing bridge,” the notice reads. “The new bridge will consist of two, vehicular travel lanes (i.e., one lane in each direction) and 1.5-meter shoulders. In addition, a 1.5 metre wide sidewalk will be provided along the west side of the new bridge. New connections to Highway 6 will also be required as part of the recommended plan.”
The MTO notice also explains, “The Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism has provided consent for the removal of the existing bridge, following construction of the new bridge. A plan to appropriately commemorate the existing bridge will also be confirmed following this Class EA study.”
This study was completed in accordance with the class EA for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000) for a group ‘A’ project. A summary of the study process, including the identification and evaluation of alternatives, the recommended plan, anticipated environmental impacts, proposed mitigation measures, and consultation activities carried out as part of this study, has been documented within a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR), a copy of which is available for public review between January 25 and February 24 at the following municipal office locations: Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Gore Bay, Central Manitoulin, Township of Burpee and Mills, Assiginack, and Billings.
The study will outline how interested persons can provide comments to the study team for the project. In addition, a request may be made to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e., requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g., require further students) only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate, or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights. Requests on other grounds will not be considered.
Requests should specify what kind of order is being requested (request for additional conditions or a request for an individual/comprehensive environmental assessment), how an order may prevent, mitigate or remedy potential adverse impacts on Aboriginal and treaty rights, and any information in support of the statements in the request. This will ensure that the ministry is able to efficiently begin reviewing the request, the MTO notice continues. Contacts for a request to be made by writing or by email will be provided in the study report.
The MTO in a release January 19 also indicated, “that a routine inspection of the Little Current Swing Bridge has been scheduled for January 27. This inspection will involve testing of bridge components. As a result, the bridge will be closed to traffic from 10 am until 5 pm for 15 minutes on each hour. Temporary signage was in place at the end of last week to provide motorists with advance notice of these planned 15-minute closures.
