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450,000_bridge

Feature Article January 29

Feature Article January 29, 2004

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CF on the hook for $450,000 bridge

It was no surprise, but it hurt nonetheless when Central Frontenac Council received the news from Frank Pfendt from the Engineering Company McCormick Rankin that the Stones Bridge on Brewer Road would have to be replaced.

At that point Council was left with little or no options. As Mayor MacDonald said, there is no other route through that area other than the Brewer Road. There is no bypass possible.

The total cost of the new bridge, not including GST, is $450,00.

Pfendt said the bridge had been approved for use this winter as a one-lane only bridge with a five-ton weight restriction and could possibly be approved again next winter, but that was by no means a certainty.

In discussion, the possibility of seeking provincial funding support was high on everyones mind. Mayor MacDonald told Council a call had been put in to MPP Dombrowskys office to get application forms for the new infrastructure program the Liberal government is bringing in, but that was three weeks ago and we havent received them.

Bridge construction had been identified as a major problem in eastern Ontario, one that could bankrupt small municipalities, in a report by the Eastern Ontario County Wardens Association early last year. The outgoing Conservative government had said reconstruction of bridges was something they would support, so the township may have some chance of receiving provincial support for this project.

We need to move forward with this project, MacDonald said, whether we get provincial funding or not.

A motion was passed to go ahead with the project and to ask McCormick Rankin what it would cost, if anything, to have them prepare a grant application for the township.

With the participation of the Government of Canada