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Township objects to high price of bridge work
By Liz Dadson

Huron-Kinloss council

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Huron-Kinloss is unsure whether to proceed with bridge replacement and maintenance, given the high price of the projects.

In general committee Monday afternoon (Feb. 1), public works director Hugh Nichol said that in 2003, a road management report by B.M. Ross and Associates, identified two bridges for replacement at a cost of $225,000 and two bridges requiring substantial repair at a cost of $124,000. It was also suggested that the township should, on average, expect to replace a bridge structure every year.

"As a township, we did not aggressively address the recommendation contained in the 2003 report," said Nichol, " which has resulted in the 2009 bridge inspection report, identifying four structures for replacement at a cost of $1.4 million, plus an additional $1 million in preventative maintenance. It also sends the warning that 12 of our existing structures will exceed their expected lifespan within the next six years."

Nichol said that for the past five years, the township has been receiving federal gas tax revenue which council has committed to use to sustain bridge infrastructure.

"We have $320,000 in our reserve with the intent to replace the Purple Grove Bridge," he said. "This process was stopped at council's direction, pending the outcome of an updated bridge inspection report."

He said council has two options: replace the bridges as recommended in the report , or be prepared to close roads.

Nichol suggested proceeding with the tendering process to replace the Purple Grove Bridge, based on the B.M. Ross recommendation to use a box culvert, and replace the timber culvert located on the South Baseline as well this year. In 2012, replace the bridges at Sideroad 30 and Sideroad 20.

"As indicated previously, if we are more aggressive with our preventative maintenance program, we will be able to extend the lifespan of our bridges," said Nichol. "Currently, we have only been spending $15,000 per year on bridge maintenance. Therefore, we will be proposing a substantial increase in the 2010 budget."

Councillor Anne Eadie said rehabilitation and maintenance of the bridges is a major priority before replacement.

Nichol pointed out that the gas tax revenue can be used for capital projects, such as a new deck on a bridge, but not for other items that are considered maintenance.

"These are hard numbers we have to face," said mayor Mitch Twolan. "When the bridges were built years ago, there were government grants available, much like we have today for firehalls and other such projects."

"I struggle with spending $1 million for bridges on roads that are not even open in the winter time, such as Sideroad 30 and Sideroad 20," said councillor Jim Hanna. "At least the Purple Grove road is open in the winter. Are we looking at closing roads?"

Councillor Don Murray suggested downgrading the 16-ton load capacity on the Purple Grove Bridge and using the extra money for other bridges.

Administrator Mary Rose Walden said staff has to investigate whether replacing the deck of a bridge is considered maintenance or a capital project. If it's maintenance, the gas tax revenue cannot be utilized, she said. Then, if council decides not to do the Purple Grove Bridge, it must choose another project and then re-apply for use of the gas tax revenue.

Murray said it would be cheaper to install a culvert rather than a bridge on certain roads, but then agencies, such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, has to get involved, regarding fish habitat in the water course, even if it's a drain.

"I don't believe the Department of Fisheries and Oceans understands rural areas," said Eadie, "if we have to consider spending $350,000 on a bridge down a sideroad."

"My priority," said Murray, "is to keep all concession roads open. There may come a day when we can't. Once you get engineers involved, it doubles the cost and that's not reasonable."

Eadie said the price for bridge replacement on sideroads is totally unreasonable. "We need to use that money for roads that must remain open," she said.

Nichol said the B.M. Ross recommendation to go with a box culvert on the Purple Grove Bridge will save about $60,000 on the project.

The original cost for the bridge replacement was more than $400,000. New figures indicate it would cost about $363,300, but the culvert option would be only $310,000, said Walden.

"It's still way too much," said Eadie. "It's not realistic. People in authority don' t have a grip on reality. They're thinking of a major road near Toronto, with all their rules and regulations."

Walden said council has been talking about the Purple Grove Bridge for a year-and-a-half and must make a decision. She said the township has $320,000 in gas tax revenue money in reserve, with another $53,000 expected this year.

Council deferred a decision until after the spring road tour when it checks out all the bridges in the township. There will be further discussion during budget talks. 
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Wednesday, February 03, 2010