Bridge could collapse within 16 months
Building a new span estimated to cost more than $11.7 million, report also says
Forks Road Bridge in Dain City is only capable of supporting its own weight for approximately 12 to 16 months, says a report coming before Welland city council tonight.
“At that time the structure may collapse and fall into the waterway below,” says the report by Chris Ander’s, the city’s manager of engineering services.
“This poses a significant risk to the public and the environment and will have a substantial cleanup cost.”
The 2018 inspection of the bridge, carried out by Ellis Engineering Inc., noted corrosion of the structure has continued at an accelerated rate since temporary repairs were made in 2016.
“During the 2016 inspection, it was noted that the rate of corrosion had increased and the bridge was no longer able to carry the posted load. Emergency repairs were completed with the goal of extending the life of the bridge to 2020 when it was budgeted to be replaced,” the report says.
The 2018 report determined the structure had very little life left and there was concern about the impact of winter operations on the corrosion of the bridge, the continued effects of corrosion and the effect of overweight vehicles driving over the bridge.
“It is for these reasons, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic on Nov. 2,” the report says.
As far back as 2010, a report by Ellis Engineering said the city should consider rehabilitating the bridge or replacing it within five or 10 years. That report, which looked at the load capacity of the structure, said significant maintenance was required to keep the bridge in service, but added that would be a wasteful venture.
The bridge was built in 1930 and was raised and lowered until 1973 when lift operations were decommissioned due to the opening of the Welland Canal bypass, at the east of Dain City. It was called Bridge 18 when it was in operation.
In 1997, its towers and counterweights were removed as they were no longer needed, and ownership of the bridge was transferred from St. Lawerence Seaway Management Corp. to Niagara Region and finally to the city in 2000.
Inspections on the structure have been carried out every two years.
Ander’s report says despite efforts to secure provincial funding in 2018, which were unsuccessful, no budgetary allocations are presently available for the bridge.
He says city staff is considering the financial implications for two possible options, building a new bridge and demolishing the existing structure.
“The most cost-effective solution is to construct a new bridge with a 75-year design life. However, this option carries a cost of $11.7 million (2016) and would be one of the largest capital projects completed in the City of Welland,” the report says.
Demolition of the existing structure has an estimated cost of $3.5 million (2016).
While the report will be presented to council at 7 p.m., Dain City residents and businesses will take part in a public information forum running 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Welland Civic Square in the Community Room.