Parks Canada has announced the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge, located on Main Street at Canal Street in Bobcaygeon, will not reopen this summer for vehicle use as originally planned.
In late May, after a delay in completing the rehabilitation of the bridge, Parks Canada announced a temporary measure would be installed by the end of July to complete bridge swings.
However, in a media release issued on Wednesday (July 14), Parks Canada advised the temporary measure is not going ahead as the contractor was unable to submit quality control documentation of some mechanical components.
“The contractor is unable to provide adequate substantiation, as required under their contract, that key mechanical components involved in rotating the bridge meet industry safety and quality standards,” the media release reads. “As such, Parks Canada will not allow the installation of these components, and has instructed that they be refabricated.”
Parks Canada states the refabrication of components, being completed at an offsite machining shop, will take an additional 10 to 12 weeks.
Installation of the refabricated components will begin following the closing of the navigation season in October, with the bridge expected to reopen for vehicular traffic in December.
A full testing of the swinging operation will take place the following spring, along with landscaping work.
While the bridge will remain closed for vehicles, enhancements have been completed on the upstream lock gate that enable a temporary canal crossing to and from the downtown core for most personal transportation devices, including scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers.
The enhancements include widening the lock gate, adding temporary ramps, and modifying the approaches.
Modifications to the lock gate will not affect boat navigation.
