MATTAWA, Ont. — The Town of Mattawa will receive a financial boost from the Ontario government to help repair an essential piece of its flood-damaged infrastructure.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is announcing $1,281,260 to support the rehabilitation of the Pont Mauril Bridge, damaged during the flooding of spring 2019. The bridge connects Highway 533 across the Mattawa River. It was renamed in honour of the late Mauril Bélanger, former area MP.
"The bridge took a pounding during the flood," says Mattawa Mayor Dean Backer. "We were fortunate that the engineers picked up some deficiencies on the bridge. It's a lot more secure than it was after we put in $300,000 worth of cement in January."
During a special meeting Monday, Mattawa council awarded a survey contract to Tulloch Engineering via Dillon Consulting to monitor the bridge for the next six to 12 weeks.
"We're going to take the load restrictions off," Backer says. The bridge "will still be down to one lane," but will begin the process of returning the bridge to full status for the essential transport of goods to and from companies associated with the forestry industry — notably nearby Tembec.
"We're pleased that the Town of Mattawa’s Pont Mauril Bridge has received the maximum contribution of almost $1.3 million through the Province’s Connecting Links Program," says Fedeli.
"This funding will provide for a safe crossing of the Mattawa River and extend the life of Pont Mauril Bridge,” says Backer. "I am extremely grateful for the continuous commitment and follow up by MPP Fedeli."
The Ministry of Transportation is responsible for distributing the Connecting Links funding, which covers up to 90 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $3 million. Eligible costs include the design, construction, renewal, rehabilitation, and replacement of connecting links. The program will support 24 municipalities across the province to help build, repair, or replace municipal roads and bridges that connect two ends of a provincial highway through a community or to a border crossing.
Fedeli adds, "Mattawa has been long awaiting this funding for the rehabilitation of the Pont Mauril Bridge, and thanks go to all community members who have advocated for this throughout the years. Today is an exciting day for the whole community."
