Rehabilitation of Wallaceburg’s downtown walking bridge remains on track to reopen this summer.
According to an update provided by the Downtown Wallaceburg BIA, the L.O. Stonehouse Memorial Walking Bridge is still expected to open to the public in July, ahead of the town’s signature WAMBO event.
“The contractor has been removing bridge spans and doing minor concrete work on-site, as well as steel fabrication at their shop. The new steel deck panels for the bridge have been fabricated and will be arriving in the next few weeks,” the BIA said in the update. “Going forward, concrete work will continue on the piers, and work is being scheduled for the installation of the new electrical feed for the bridge and lighting system.”
Construction of the bridge will include the installation of coloured lighting, similar to what is currently installed on the Third Street bridge in Chatham. However, the lighting components won’t be completed until the fall.
The Sydenham River will remain open and passable for boats during construction.
Chatham-Kent Council approved a $2.3 million tender for the rehabilitation project back in June 2023, with Hamilton-based Dayson Industrial Services hired to complete the work.
The downtown Wallaceburg bridge, originally built in 1910 and converted to a pedestrian crossing in 1983, has been shut down since November 2021 due to safety concerns.