LITTLE CURRENT—For the past two months, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has been investigating the replacement of the over century-old Manitoulin Swing Bridge, and this could even mean a tunnel, or chunnel as it were, in Manitoulin’s future.
“As part of the planning, preliminary design and environmental assessment process, various alternatives will be evaluated for the replacement of the bridge,” Andrew Healy, MTO environmental planner, northeast region. “At this time, we have not excluded any type of replacement option, including a tunnel.”
“The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is in the initial stages of hiring a consultant to do an environmental assessment and preliminary design for a new bridge,” Mr. Healy continued. “In the past two months, the ministry has commenced the initial stages of hiring a consultant to complete a planning, preliminary design and environmental assessment study to replace the bridge.”
The MTO notes that the preliminary design for a new bridge will include reviewing alternate locations and a variety of designs.
“The bridge is over 100-years-old and is nearing the end of its service life,” Mr. Healy continued. “Being the main link between Manitoulin Island and the mainland, it is important that the ministry be proactive in developing plans for its eventual replacement. In the meantime, the ministry will continue to maintain the existing bridge.”
“The bridge replacement is not currently funded and there is no schedule for its replacement,” Mr. Healy added.
When the time comes, notices of public consultation and environmental assessment will be found within the pages of this newspaper and through mail-out.
The environmental assessment study will be completed over the next few years and will be followed with detail design if construction is funded. The consultant will likely be hired by the ministry in early 2018.
Self-described ‘bridge lover’ Bill Caesar, of White’s Point, thinks it’s about time that the MTO is acting to replace the aging bridge following the many issues that have plagued the structure over the past few years, the most recent of which has meant the bridge swings every other hour to accommodate boat traffic, with the assistance of a number of workers, from dawn to dusk instead of the usual every hour on the hour with no manual assistance at all.
“I love the old bridge, I think a lot of people love it, but our economy here is so fragile and people work hard to make a go of it,” Mr. Caesar said, adding that anything that risks the much-needed traffic should be of top priority to all involved.
Should the bridge be replaced, by tunnel or otherwise, Mr. Caesar said that while swinging it open permanently would be great, he understands from speaking with people in the know that were it to be left untended as a ‘museum piece,’ the bridge would deteriorate quickly.
Mr. Caesar pointed to an editorial in this newspaper penned three years ago calling for urgent action on the bridge from the ministry. “And that was three years ago,” he said.
“The sooner the better,” he said of a replacement, noting that he hopes it doesn’t mean years of expensive studies with nothing being done. “If they’re paying three guys to jack that up with each swing…that’s going to be an expense.”
As for the bridge work to replace the broken wedge, the work was scheduled to be completed yesterday, Tuesday July 18.
“The 6 pm bridge opening has been targeted as the opportune time to hoist the wedge and link down to the walkway,” Mr. Healy said. “The boom truck will be onsite approximately 30 minutes earlier to ensure all is ready to go as soon as the traffic gates are closed. Hoisting is expected to be complete within 15-20 minutes and the roadway clear. Hoisting during a bridge opening will keep the traffic disruption to an absolute minimum. We will co-ordinate with the bridge operator to ensure our truck and boom truck are in place and secure prior to pulling the wedges and opening the bridge.”
The work is being done by the MTO’s area contractor, DBI.
The MTO expected the bridge to be closed to traffic for about 15 minutes longer than the normal opening/closing. “We regret the inconvenience to drivers and ask for their patience as we complete this work,” Mr. Healy said.
Only one repaired wedge will be installed. A permanent new wedge will be molded and created in the coming months.
With the wedge installed, the bridge will return to its normal operating schedule.
