The north span pedestrian-only truss bridge (show) was closed in July due to erosion. The town is applying for a grant with the hopes of fixing both the north and south bridges that connect to Finlayson Island. (File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Bridge Rehabilitation

Town applying for grant to repair both north and south span truss bridges

Oct 22, 2020 | 5:54 PM

The Town of Battleford is applying for funding available through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) to help repair both the north and south span truss bridges that connect to Finlayson Island, as they are both in poor condition.

The north side pedestrian-only bridge has been closed since July due to significant erosion. The south-side bridge used mainly by vehicle traffic remains open but also needs significant repairs.

At council’s recent meeting administration recommended the town apply for funding through ICIP – COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, Active Transportation Infrastructure category, for the capital costs for rehabilitating the two bridge spans.

The estimated total cost of the project is $4,567,000. If the funding is approved, the ICIP grant is projected at $3,333,910, so the town will need to make a capital investment projected at $1,233,090 for the remaining cost. Also in the proposal, the town will commit to a maintenance investment of $1,080,500 in total over the next 10 years, if the application is successful. All capital work must be completed before Dec. 31, 2022 based on the program’s regulations for communities with populations under 5,000.

Currently the north span bridge is rated 2.3, in a rating scheme with five being adequate and nine being very good. The south span bridge is rated 2.45. The rehabilitation work would bring both bridge spans up to a five rating, based on the engineer’s inspection report.

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The town’s engineer’s proposed aiming for a target of a five rating, and completing yearly preventative maintenance work after that.

The town is seeking the grant program available for walking and bicycling bridge projects.

“We feel both bridges do meet the regulation as a walking and bicycling bridge; that is the area we are applying under,” town finance director/ deputy chief administrative officer David Gillan said. “Even though it’s a vehicular bridge on the south side, it’s also still a bicycle bridge and a walking bridge…Hopefully, it will qualify.”

Council agreed for the town to apply for the grant. If the town isn’t successful in receiving the full funding, the matter will come back to council for further discussion.

“I hope we get the funds,” Coun. Susan McLean Tady said. “We would really hate to lose those bridges.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW