West Ferris residents will soon know what it's like to be without the Lamorie St. bridge as beginning this Thursday, it will be temporarily closed to through traffic.
The road and bridge, which is in bad shape, will be closed from Lakeshore Drive/Pinewood Park Drive to Birch’s Road for three days for the purpose of completing a condition survey. The bridge is located just north of the Lakeshore Drive-Pinewood Park intersection near the West Ferris Legion.
Local traffic will, however, be permitted for residents and businesses in the immediate area.
Weather permitting, Lamorie Street will be re-opened to traffic by Sunday, Sept. 8.
There is pressure for the city to make a decision one way or the other.
See: Lamorie Street bridge continues to deteriorate. City to study its options
A thorough inspection will provide insight into its current status and help determine whether it should be rehabilitated, replacement or closed off to traffic.
North Bay city council has awarded a contract to Towards Sustainable Infrastructure (TSI) Inc in the amount of $87,000 to complete a detailed inspection of the structure.
“It is a bridge that is still well used in the community, but the study will determine the viability of its ongoing operation and potential costs for rehabilitation,” said city councillor Chris Mayne, chair of Infrastructure and Operations.
“Certainly, for the businesses in the area, it is important. And if we’re trying to encourage economic development in that industrial park, it is used as another access to the highway so there is value to it. The challenge is what value do you place on that additional service?”
Councillor Mac Bain reminded council that at last check, the cost to replace the bridge was estimated to be around $9 million.
“If the Lamorie Street bridge was closed, there is a cement factory and a quarry further down Birchs Road so they would have to start using Booth Road to access Highway 11," says Mayne. "But at the end of the day, those roads are still commercially viable. It is not like they would lose complete access it just creates some level of inconvenience for them.”
The detour would also force the trucks onto Lakeshore Drive and past Sunset Park School.
