Forks Road Bridge decked out for Christmas
City forum on closed span takes place Tuesday evening at Welland Civic Square
Dain City residents are hoping Santa Claus brings a new bridge to their neighbourhood, but in the meantime they are continuing to take pride in the one that was shut down more than a month ago by the City of Welland.
Bridge 18, also known at Forks Road Bridge, is closed for public safety concerns.
An inspection found the span was deteriorating faster than anticipated. It had been closed for three weeks in 2016 and repairs were made that should have extended the bridge’s life.
On Sunday, the Save Bridge 18 committee was at the 83-year-old span across the former Welland Canal south of South Niagara Rowing Club to hang holly and various ornaments at both its entrances.
“This might be the last year the bridge is up,” said Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens, who looks forward to seeing it replaced in the near future.
“She’s tired, she’s old and she’s done her job,” she added.
The city said recently bridge replacement alternatives and cost estimates have been developed, along with maintenance plans to use canal service roads as an emergency detour route in the event of a catastrophe.
Plans to use that road, on the west side of the working Welland Canal, are awaiting approval from St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp.
Dawn Cant Elliott, a local resident who leads the committee that’s working with the municipality to devise a plan, said the decorating session permitted people from the area to meet during the holidays — but also raise awareness about work being done to get a new bridge.
“We want to keep the attention going,” she said, adding “there was a conversation” with city staff ahead of Sunday about safety issues pertaining to the Christmas spruce up.
Dain City residents and businesses have been invited to a public information forum taking place Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Welland Civic Square in the Community Room.
At 7 p.m. municipal staff will make a bridge presentation to city council.
The city said information will be added to its public engagement platform, yourchannel.welland.ca, on Wednesday.