An aging bridge in rural Halton Hills will soon get a facelift.
The Town of Halton Hills plans to rehabilitate the bridge on Fifth Line north of Steeles Avenue, which was built in 1960.
A report to council says the structure has not received any rehabilitation work since then. The bridge passes over a tributary of the Sixteen Mile Creek, which flows into Lake Ontario via Oakville.
“As these assets age, regular maintenance and rehabilitation programs are required,” Project Manager of Municipal Infrastructure Michelle Mathies said in an emailed statement. “ If deferred, it will be more expensive to perform the required work to ensure that the assets perform as intended.”
A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the work was sent out in April. An RFP is a document that announces a project, provides details on what the project is and invites bids from contractors that will be examined and approved by the Town.
GHD Ltd. of Waterloo has been chosen for design services, administration and inspection services portions of the project. The selected construction company will be announced this month.
The budget at this stage stands at $355,000. This will be covered by monies received through the Infrastructure Canada Community Building Fund (formerly the federal gas tax), which dispenses roughly $2 billion for projects in 3,600 municipalities across the country.
A 2020 inspection of the bridge indicated that it's in fair condition, but should be considered for rehabilitation.
“Bridges noted as fair condition are in the middle or approaching the end of their useful lives, indicating a need for investment in one to five years,” said Mathies. “In fair condition, the bridge may show signs of minor deterioration and may require attention. Some parts exhibit significant deficiencies and may require ongoing monitoring, major maintenance, or rehabilitation.”
The Town hopes to finish the construction phase of the bridge by the end of 2024. Staff will consult with affected residents about any traffic impacts using social media, signage and hand-delivered letters.
