Changing the scope
Montague’s proposed walking bridge dropped for waterfront improvements
THREE RIVERS – A proposed walking bridge that would have connected both ends of Montague's waterfront for pedestrians has been dropped.
The bridge was discussed during a Three Rivers regular council meeting at the Cavendish Farms Wellness Centre in Montague on Oct. 13. Mayor Edward MacAulay said council had taken over the project when Montague amalgamated into Three Rivers in 2018.
In the municipality's five-year capital budget, $1,048,225 had been allocated toward the construction of the bridge as well as an amphitheatre on the waterfront. A majority of the project was to be funded by the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure program (ICIP), but Three Rivers would still have had to source a few hundred thousand dollars, MacAulay said.
Montague's former council had put a lot of work into the bridge. However, a construction tender for it was ultimately voted down by Three Rivers councillors during a committees of council meeting this summer, he said.
"People really thought that it was a poor use of resources."
At its Oct. 13 meeting, council resolved to amend the project's scope to include waterfront improvements instead, such as dredging part of the riverbed to allow docks for larger vessels, assessing the stability of the dock piles and extending the wooden boardwalk.
The amphitheatre would still be included as well, but the amended scope isn't guaranteed yet as ICIP has to approve funding for it in place of the previously-approved bridge.
"They require a motion stating that we've changed it," community service manager Dorothy Macdonald said.