The reopening of the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge has been delayed yet again.
The project to rehabilitate the Bobcaygeon Swing Bridge was originally scheduled to be completed this past May. Delays with the fabrication and delivery of hydraulic and mechanical components, and the discovery that some components of the bridge were in worse condition than originally anticipated, changed the expected completion date to the summer.
In July, Parks Canada announced the bridge would not reopen in the summer because key mechanical components involved in rotating the bridge needed to be refabricated as they did not meet safety and quality standards. The refabricated components were to be installed in October following the closing of the navigation season, with the bridge expected to reopen for vehicle use in December.
Parks Canada has now announced the bridge will not reopen to vehicular traffic until spring 2022. The enhanced pedestrian access over the upper lock gates and its access paths will continue to remain open.
“Earlier this fall, in order to assist with resolving concerns regarding the mechanical components, a new consultant was brought onto the project to review and finalise the design, and re-fabrication of required components for the bridge,” reads a media release from Parks Canada.
“At that point, it was believed that a December 2021 bridge reopening timeframe was still achievable. However, upon review by the new consultant, Parks Canada was recently advised by the contractor that they will be unable to meet this timeframe and that the reopening of the bridge needed to be pushed to spring 2022 due to issues mainly associated with the mechanical component refabrication.”
Parks Canada adds it is “working closely” with the contractor to bring the project to its completion, and will provide further updates when available.
