By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
GHD is now taking feedback on its latest plan for the replacement of the Campbellford bridge, but Northumberland County council got a chance at its July meeting to hear some of the plans that are also available on the company’s website.
Project lead Brian Rusk followed up on the July 7 presentation made to Trent Hills council to offer the update on what he called “one of those projects that shape a community for generations to come.”
One challenge is that it’s not just the bridge that’s part of the project.
“In order for the bridge to be effective, it has to have an effective road network that serves it,” he explained.
The intersection of Grand and Alma streets on the west bank of the bridge is an example.
The traffic signalization is to be replaced with a revised round-about design that reduces the impact on the Canadian Tire parking lot to the loss of no more than one or two parking spaces.
The bridge has been lowered to reduce property requirements without compromising navigation requirements on the Trent River, with a dead area underneath eliminated to avoid attracting “things you don’t want to attract,” Rusk said (like a graffiti problem). Property impacts have also been reduced by shifting the east end of the bridge slightly to the south.
A pedestrian pathway on the west bank now goes under the bridge instead of being interrupted by it.
On the east bank, the cul-de-sac where Frank Street would have joined Second was not big enough in terms of emergency-vehicle access. Instead, paralleling Second Street, there will be a single-direction laneway joining Frank Street with Saskatoon Avenue to allow two points of access for added safety and convenience.
With a lifespan of 75 years contemplated for the bridge, Rusk said it was necessary to accommodate the growing active-transportation usage. There will be one lane of vehicular traffic each way, at the outside of which will be a bicycle lane in each direction. Protected by what he termed a crash barrier, pedestrians will be safe using both sides of the bridge, enjoying the view through an outer barrier that allows sight-seeing – perhaps aluminum pickets or a stainless-steel webnet.
Stakeholder engagement is currently going on on-line, with a virtual open house that runs through Aug. 28 and includes virtual question-and-answer sessions July 28 and Aug. 13.
For those uncomfortable with on-line transactions, or without access to them, the same materials will be available in publicly accessible locations in Trent Hills.
Councillor Mandy Martin of Cramahe Township questioned the increase in project budget due to recent additional engineering to come up with this latest version of the project. Rusk did not have the figures, but he did not think it was a matter for concern as he sees lower construction costs to offset it.
With one lane each way instead of two, he said, “actually construction costs should be significantly less, eliminating one span of the bridge.
“And if anything, costs have come down with less property impacts. We believe we have come up with something that is more cost-effective and functionally superior.”
“Our council was very pleased with the presentation,” Deputy Warden Bob Crate of Trent Hills stated.
“I think it’s one of those situations where we are getting into it now, and quite pleased with the direction it is going in – and hopefully we can move forward without too much delay.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
