Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge ready to open in May: Parks Canada

It’s been a long time coming, but the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge rehabilitation project will soon be completed.

According to Parks Canada’s Ontario waterways director David Britton, the “plan” is to get work completed prior to the May 17 start of the boating season.

“This has been a challenging project for Parks Canada,” Britton said during Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting.

The project, which began with the closure of the swing bridge in October 2020, was expected to take about eight months.

Unfortunately, a number of issues created considerable delays in meeting this end date including construction and design challenges and setbacks relating to fabrication; the biggest being incorrectly sized parts that needed to be remade.

Although it was not completed, having already inconvenienced residents and visitors alike for three years, Parks Canada decided to open the bridge to traffic last October.

“We’ve learned some unfortunate lessons,” stated Britton, adding the project was definitely a “wake-up call for setting realistic time lines for bridge work.”

Britton said the agency will definitely be more diligent when it comes to awarding projects – while fiscally responsible, the lowest bid isn’t always the best fit — and pay closer consideration when determining to rehabilitate a structure versus new construction.

“It’s been difficult for everybody,” said Ward 2 Coun. Pat Warren, who hopes everything will be “swinging sweetly for the boating season.”

In the event work does not progress sufficiently to permit the bridge to operate normally, a temporary operating system will be put in place.

Residents and visitors can find more information on the Bobcaygeon projects and others on Parks Canada’s website.