There is only two years of life left in the North Bridge.
That’s what Dave McPhee, Town of Ponoka director of operations and property services told council March 11.
Results of a 2012 dated, 450-page bridge coring report provided by Lex3 Engineering, through Tagish Engineering, shows the bridge, which was originally constructed in 1908 is in dire straits.
Background to the bridge shows the substructure was reconstructed in 1937 and 1972, however McPhee says some components are more than 100 years old. The age of the bridge is becoming an issue.
“The bridge has dropped 20 mm overall,” said McPhee.
In 2003, council commissioned a report on the bridge, the results of which showed a lifespan until 2012. Tagish Engineering was asked to provide a new coring report two years ago, the same year the bridge was determined to be at the end of its life.
“This has been going on for years and I hate to say it, nothing’s been done,” said McPhee.
Report recommendations
• Replace the substructure and rehabilitate the superstructure: $1.35 million
• Replace the bridge on the existing roadway: $1.3 million
He did not recommend either option as Lex3 states the bridge is below the town’s flood plan. Construction may not be approved by Alberta Environment and the town would not be eligible for federal or provincial grants.
Council could close the bridge and close the road to traffic; but McPhee says he believes 1,000 vehicles use the bridge every day.
Mayor Rick Bonnett suggested closing the road altogether would increase traffic on 46 Street and 38 Street, which would reduce the life of those roads.
McPhee provided a fourth option, which provides plans to replace the bridge and realign the road to meet 100-year-flood emergencies at a cost of $2.6 million. Coun. Marc Yaworski asked what the time frame for completion should be. “Should something be done immediately?”
McPhee suggested the bridge substructure will be monitored for public safety and if need be, he will close it to traffic.
Some planning has already been done in the area for realigning the road. Town planners have a proposed layout for a new bridge and road realignment. One property still needs to be purchased to ensure the realignment plans will work.
Acting CAO Betty Quinlan said $100,000 has been saved for this project and she suggested they could begin the planning process with those funds.
McPhee says grant funding may be possible as this is a “shovel ready” project, but the town needs to start putting in grant applications now.
“We’ll look at funding options,” said Quinlan.
Council made no decisions except to direct McPhee to continue with realignment plans.