It’s possibly a new, old bridge for Marburg Road

Adam Veri, Norfolk Ward 6 Councillor

Luke Edwards

Advocate Correspondent

Years after it was closed to vehicular traffic and months after a fallen tree fully doomed it, the Porter Bridge could be getting replaced, though the replacement could potentially be familiar to any local pontists out there.

Norfolk councillors have asked staff to look at the possibility of using the Concession 3 bridge as a replacement for the Marburg Road bridge when the former is replaced next year. It was one of a few options staff put forward in a report at the Nov. 13 Norfolk County meeting.

The Porter Bridge, located between St. John’s Road East and Lynn Valley Road, was closed to vehicular traffic in 2010 before being rendered fully unusable after a tree fell on it earlier this year.

Norfolk staff removed the bridge using emergency purchasing protocols in August. The recent report gave the justification for using the protocols and outlined options for staff to consider.

“I’d say the general sentiment is residents in the area would like the road open,” said Coun. Adam Veri.

The options included keeping the crossing closed permanently and building culs-de-sac on both ends of Marburg, at an estimated price tag of $75,000 to $100,000.

A second option would have seen a replacement bridge built that was capable of handling pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and costing the municipality between $1.5 million and $2 million.

The third option would see a replacement bridge for pedestrians and cyclists built. Simple replacement would cost an estimated $300,000 to $400,000, however staff also proposed reusing the Concession 3 bridge. Reusing the existing bridge would actually be more expensive - the report pegged an estimated cost in the range of $500,000 to $600,000 - but would create a similar historical feel to the old Porter Bridge, which was built in 1918.

Darnell Lambert, director of engineering at the county, called it a “high level estimate” since it would require some investigation into ensuring it’s possible.

“But I’m comfortable saying it’s in that realm, and could come in lower,” he said.

Reusing the Concession 3 bridge would also require some assessments, and there’s an additional risk that half-open truss design could be more prone to failure.

“I would be really interested in more information on that 3B hybrid option replacing something with a historic detail to it to be used mainly for pedestrian uses,” Martin said, adding it would give them some time to get input from neighbours and hopefully the option would come in at the lower end of the estimate.