Public sentiment is strong to maintain the status quo for Wallaceburg’s Base Line Bridge.
Area residents packed the municipal service centre Wednesday night to discuss whether to keep the structure as a swing bridge and allow taller boats through, or change it to a fixed structure.
Wallaceburg councillor Aaron Hall says there is overwhelming public support to keep it as a movable bridge.
“I am with the community on this right now,” Hall says. “I think we should do everything we can to keep the swing capabilities of the Base Line Bridge as status quo as it has been for years. I think we have to put the funding into it so make sure it remains that way.”
Tenders for much needed repairs out in January of this year and the winning bidder was well over the $2 million dollars that Chatham-Kent budgeted, with the winning bid coming in at $2.9 million.
It would cost about a million dollars less if the bridge became fixed, which would prevent large boats from passing underneath.
Thomas Kelly, general manager infrastructure and engineering services, says if money is saved by making Wallaceburg’s bridges fixed, the money could be used for upgrades on the Sydenham River.
“We have heard for years and we see it and its on our plan actually, is to upgrade the waterway and the boardwalk. Right now the funding doesn’t exist,” Kelly says. “The question that we were putting forward tonight really is; if you could consider moving funding away from movable bridges we could use that money to upgrade the boardwalk and do something really special for the community.”
The municipality is still collecting feedback from area residents with an online survey – click here for the link.
The issue will be back before council at its next meeting on March 2nd.