Those traveling certain parts of County Road 6 in Douro Dummer next year will have to find alternative routes as Gilchrist Park Bridge is set for replacement. County Council has approved a full road closure for this work, where only emergency services and local traffic will be able to by-pass the 40 km detour.
Last week, during the County Council meeting held on May 6, Doug Saccoccia presented a report outlining options for the replacement of Gilchrist Park Bridge. In his report he stated that based on their inspections, it was recommended that Gilchrist Park Bridge be replaced rather than spot repaired or rehabilitated.
According to DM Wills, who was contracted to complete the study and design work, the existing Gilchrist Park Bridge is a single-span (15.2 m) cast-in-place reinforced concrete rigid frame constructed in 1955, making it 71 years old at the time of this report. The bridge is currently in fair condition but has reached the end of its design life, with significant bottom-up deck deterioration observed during inspections. The current Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) is approximately 1,250 vehicles per day.
DM Wills and the County of Peterborough developed four options for the replacement of the bridge.
• Alternative 1: Full Bridge Closure with Full Primary Detour: estimated cost of $2,550,000 with a schedule of 100 days. However, emergency services would not be able to provide adequate service due to the length of the detour.
• Alternative 2: Full Closure and Primary Detour with Gilchrist Bay Road Local Emergency Access: Estimated Cost of $3,024,000 with a schedule of 100 days.
Saccoccia’s report stated that approximately 75m upstream of Gilchrist Park Bridge, the Old Canal Bridge carries Gilchrist Bay Road across the river that connects Gilchrist Bay to White Lake. Old Canal Bridge is a single lane bridge that currently carries a load posting which limits its ability to be used as a detour for emergency fire services. However, the Old Canal Bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2027. Going with this option would mean replacing the Old Canal Bridge ahead of the Gilchrist Park Bridge with a new modular bridge that would have full highway loading capabilities.
This would then allow Gilchrist Bay Road to be utilized as a detour for emergency service vehicles and local traffic while all other traffic would be directed to the main detour using County Rd 40
• Alternative 3: Temporary Modular Bridge: Estimated cost of $3,430,000 with a schedule of 120-140 days In this option, a temporary modular bridge would be constructed beside the existing structure. This would allow the bridge to be fully closed, while still allowing one lane of alternating traffic to pass over the temporary structure
.• Alternative 4: Two-Stage Construction: Estimated Cost of less than $3,500,000 with a timeline of over 18 months.
This alternative would require construction to happen in two-stages to allow one lane of alternating traffic to pass over the structure. Due to the site constraints and existing road platform width, this alternative requires extensive roadworks and staging/protection systems.
Saccoccia said that based on feedback and information gathered through consultation, Township staff, including the Public Works Manager and the Fire Chief, concerns were expressed that the use of the proposed detour would negatively impact the ability of emergency fire services to respond in a timely manner.
Because of this, County staff recommended Council approve Alternative 2.
Saccoccia clarified that by approving this option, the Old Canal bridge work would be completed in Fall of 2026, with construction on County Road 6, the Gilchrist Park Bridge beginning in the summer of 2027.
He told the Herald that the County is taking on the rehabilitation of the Old Canal Bridge through this project as the County owns the structure. He said that although the bridge is located on a Township road, the County owns the structure and 30m on either side of the bridge.
During the 2027 construction only those living on Gilchrest Bay Road and emergency services would be able to utilize that road to by-bass construction.
Saccoccia said that detour routes will be confirmed with the final design package for the Gilchrist Bridge. The County in partnership with the Township of Douro-Dummer will be completing a communication strategy to notify residents/motorist of the detours. This plan will include notice of construction mail-outs to residents within the project area, Municipal 511 (Municipal511), and social media posts in addition to road signage being placed prior to commencement of the construction phase.
The county and township would work in collaboration with the OPP to enforce the detour routes for all other traffic.
He explained that using the Gilchrest Bay road as a detour for all traffic would be detrimental to the road as it was not built for the high traffic levels of county Road 6.
County Council approved the recommendation to proceed with Alternative 2.
More information can be found at ptbocounty.ca
