All six bridges in Calvin Township are doing well, with “no big surprises” from the last full inspection in 2022, explained Municipal Engineer, Antoine Boucher. All inspections are in accordance with the Province’s BCI – the Bridge Condition Index – and by law, these are conducted every two years.
“Every second year we do the study,” Boucher confirmed, and include the Hackenbroke, Walley, Crothers, Stewarts, Pautois, and Crosses bridges. The BCI has three overall ratings, Good, Fair, and Poor, and five of those township bridges remain in Good condition. None are rated Poor, and Crosses Bridge is Fair.
Crosses Bridge, a concrete rigid frame bridge on Homestead Road, is the oldest bridge of the six, built in 1983. “The bridge that we have is substandard in its design,” Boucher said, and will require some work in the upcoming years.
Specifically, “a better survey of the deck” will be needed, and the approach guiderails will be upgraded as well. Boucher, as per the consultant’s engineering report, suggested this work be done in 2025 or 2026.
The bridge is safe, but those guiderails could contribute to an accident, if hit at the wrong angle. As Boucher detailed, “if a vehicle was to lose control at the entry of the bridge, there’s a chance that the vehicle could ride over the guiderail.” Correcting the problem would cost around $48,000.
Walley Bridge along Peddler’s Drive should also get some attention in the next two to five years. A full deck inspection will be needed, which will cost around $10,000. The rubber membranes supporting the trusses “are starting to wear out” and are in “need of a joint seal replacement,” Boucher said.
“There’s not much life left in them” he added, and the fix will be expensive, around $98,000.
Overall, “all the structure are in relatively good condition,” Boucher said, and Calvin’s council accepted his report, to take those recommendations into consideration for upcoming budget sessions.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
