NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT TOWNLINE BRIDGE NO. 10 BRIDGE REPLACEMENT MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Townline Bridge No. 10 is a two-span steel stringer bridge that carries two lanes of traffic over the Manitou River, in Snowville, by the intersection of Townline Road and Side Road 15. The bridge has a length of 9.71 m, consisting of two 4.85 m spans and a width of 6.75 m. The bridge is located on Townline Road, an east-west local road which is at the border of Municipality of Central Manitoulin (north side of road), and the Township of Tehkummah (south side of road).

Overall, the structure is in poor condition, the girders and bearings have severe to very severe corrosion and section loss, and the hydraulic capacity may currently be undersized for fluctuating flows caused by changing weather patterns and dam management along the river by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. It is currently closed to traffic, and the intention is to replace it with a new bridge.

Engineering design and planning of the replacement bridge is currently underway, which would have the existing bridge replaced with an appropriately-sized two-lane single-span steel girder-type modular bridge, at the same location and alignment, but with improvements to waterway opening, as feasible. Construction is intended to proceed in 2023, pending regulatory approval..

 

The implementation of the bridge replacement will be per Schedule B of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. Consultation is an integral part of the environmental assessment process, to ensure that those with an interest in this project have the opportunity to provide relevant input. Feedback from stakeholders and members of the public are being collected, which will be kept on file for use and consideration during the design of the replacement.

 

Comments on this planned work are being requested and will be accepted up to June 10, 2023.

 

Please contact:

Mr. Peter Firla, P.Eng.

Project Environmental Engineer

EXP Services Inc.

Suite 3-6A, 885 Regent Street

Sudbury, ON, P3E 5M4

705.674.9681 x.3936

Ms. Patricia Mader

Deputy Clerk & Municipal Coordinator

Municipality of Central Manitoulin

P.O. Box 187, 6020 Highway 542

Mindemoya, ON, P0P 1S0

705.377.5726

This notice is issued May 11, 2023.