The Municipality of West Grey conducted a Public Information Session on October 3, 2024, to discuss the Bridge and Culvert Prioritization Program.
West Grey delivers key services to support our fast-growing population, including 114 bridges and culverts with a span of three metres or more, most of which are at least 75+ years old. These structures were built and designed for very different uses than what we see today. Traffic patterns have changed, and farm equipment has certainly changed, all of which are having significant impact on the life and condition of our bridges. At best, if built new and to today’s standards, bridges have a lifespan of approximately 100 years.
We are facing the consequences of many bridges reaching the end of their lifespan, along with the repercussions of closures resulting from structural deterioration. We will focus on 25 out of the 114 bridge structures in West Grey, providing a recommended priority list for immediate attention. This will also include some bridges that may be potential candidates for closure as they approach the end of their service life.
You will see that the total estimated cost for replacement of the 10 priority bridges identified is over $19.5 million dollars over the next 10 years. For context, a one percent increase in the West Grey tax levy equates to $130,000 to $140,000 in expenditures.
The municipality acknowledges that bridge closures and load restrictions have a detrimental effect on our residents, farmers, and businesses. In response, the Municipality of West Grey is outlining the next steps to address this issue.
Our goal is for Council, and ultimately the public, to understand the extent of the challenges we face, understand the methodology employed to evaluate the situation, and offer insights on a sustainable strategy for bridge infrastructure in West Grey. The next steps in this process involve presenting this information to Council for approval.
Steps to setting bridge priorities
- Identify bridges and culverts in poor structural condition with a Bridge Condition Index of 70 or lower with 10 or less services years remaining.
- Create an order of priority based on the Total Probability of Failure and the Total Consequence of Closure/Failure.
- Maintain an up-to-date list of structures with the highest replacement priority to best suit the needs of the transportation network within the Municipality.
- Bridges are assessed a risk rating using the following considerations:
- bridge condition
- load limits
- detour length
- traffic volume
- local access
- emergency response time
FAQS
| How do you communicate to residents when an emergency bridge closure may take place? |
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Staff make their best effort to give residents as much notice as possible when it has been decided that a bridge must be closed for safety reasons. A complete bridge closure is considered a last resort, determined through thorough inspection. When an inspection indicates that a bridge needs to be closed, it is imperative for public safety to act quickly. Staff will ensure that residents are informed promptly, using social media platforms to communicate with those directly impacted by the bridge closure, and will post the information on the municipal website. |
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Who is notified when a bridge is closed? |
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When a bridge is closed, municipal staff notify emergency services (West Grey Police Services, West Grey Fire, Grey County Paramedic Services) via email. There is also a common internal mapping application that we share with EMS so they can see which bridges are open vs closed. Additionally, there is a public mapping application called Municipal 511 (https://www.municipal511.ca/) that is updated with the bridge closure information. |
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Once a bridge is closed, what is the timing for repair or replacement? |
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When a bridge is closed, the municipality will assess the extent of the damage, in consultation with our engineers, to determine options for repair or replacement. Council will be provided an update on the options available, and a decision on next steps will be made by Council based on engineering reports, priority ranking, urgency and budget resources. |
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The Municipality of West Grey is committed to fostering an environment where there is Respect for yourself; Respect for others; and Responsibility for your actions. The Municipality discourages any form of inappropriate behaviour at all Municipal recreation programs, facilities, parks and trails, in written or verbal communications (including email or phone), or at any other location where Municipal staff are present.