Construction underway on Kinsmen Bridge replacement

A schematic diagram illustrates what the new bridge will look like. (Submitted Photo).

By Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The town’s largest construction project of the year was expected to be underway this week with the start of the replacement of the Kinsmen Bridge.

An assessment of the existing bridge in 2019 deemed it needed to be replaced in the next few years. The bridge, which connects Hickory Hills and other subdivisions on the west end of town to the downtown via the Veterans’ Walkway, sees between 250 and 500 people per day cross it.

The existing structure was built in 1888 as part of the Great Western Railway connecting Tillsonburg Junction to Brantford.

This photo from the 1870s shows the first bridge of the Great Western Railway being built to traverse Stoney Creek in what is now Participark. That original bridge was replaced by the current one in 1888. Note that the cement support pillars remained between the two structures, and will still be in use with the new bridge. (Annandale House Photo).

Council approved the bid for $3.25 million from Lancoa Contracting of Caledon East, which was a considerable savings from the $4.69 million budget.

The new bridge will be a prefabricated girder design with a metal grate walkway. It will have a deflector plate so those walking across the bridge wouldn’t be able to see the valley floor below and create an issue for those with a fear of heights. It will utilize the existing cement pillars, with renovations, and feature LED lighting on the walkway.

The Kinsmen Bridge, as it’s known today, was transformed from being a rail bridge to a pedestrian bridge after the rails were removed. Word on the street is the occasional child living on the west end of town, and not listening to their parents, would use it as a pedestrian bridge while the rails were still in place. (Jeff Helsdon Photo).

Lancoa was expected to set up on the site Aug. 4 to start removal of the existing bridge. Portions of it will be retained by the town and could be incorporated into a future redesign of the Veterans Walkway.

The replacement bridge will be brought into the area in sections and then connected on-site. Known as a plate girder construction, the replacement will have a girder construction to contain an element of the original structure, and will incorporate the existing concrete abutments.

“The existing masonry piers/abutments will be restored where necessary and the centre eight piers will remain integral to the bridge structure  where the others will be unused,” said Leo Ferreira, Tillsonburg’s Manager of Engineering.

Construction is expected to take until the end of the year.

Temporary closure of one of the town’s main pedestrian links will result in changes. Participark, including the trail from Concession Street West to Baldwin Street, will be closed during the construction period.

“During this time, there will not be any public access to the park,” Ferreira said.

There also will also not be any pedestrian access to Veteran’s Walkway during this time, although the trail from Wilson to the Hickory Hills Community Centre will remain open. The pedestrian detour will be down Wilson to Baldwin to access the downtown. A temporary three-way stop will be set up at Wilson and Baldwin to allow safe crossing to the sidewalk on the south side of Baldwin Street.