County Council Greenlights Bridge Repairs on Loyalist Parkway and Burr Road

Date: July 25, 2023

After deliberation over whether to delay the work, County Council has approved a $1.5 million construction contract to rehabilitate the Loyalist Parkway Bridge.

The contract was awarded to Nuroad Construction Ltd., whose bid was the lower of two submissions, with the competing proposal coming in at $2.3 million. Although engineering consultants HP Engineering advised that the bidding process may not have yielded fully competitive pricing and suggested the project could be retendered for 2024 construction, they also confirmed that Nuroad is qualified to carry out the work.

During council discussions, members noted the bid came in under budget and expressed concern that postponing the project could create complications for other bridge rehabilitation projects planned for 2024.

The County Road 33 bridge, located approximately 4.1 kilometres west of Highway 62, dates back to 1948, when the route was part of Ontario’s provincial highway system.

Planned upgrades include removal and replacement of the concrete deck, waterproofing, new asphalt surfacing, guide rail replacement, and additional structural repairs. While no detour route is available, one lane of traffic will remain open throughout construction.

According to staff, the rehabilitation is expected to extend the bridge’s lifespan by 65 to 75 years. Council also approved a separate tender valued at just under $400,000 for repairs to the Burr Road Bridge, awarding the contract to Clearwater Structures, the lowest of five bidders.

Councillor John Hirsch raised concerns over the cost, describing the structure, a concrete box culvert as “barely a bridge,” and questioned whether alternative, lower-cost options had been explored. He referenced examples of railway flatbed structures used over similar waterways at significantly reduced costs.

County staff responded that engineering best practices are continually reviewed and that annual inspections consider the most cost-effective and appropriate solutions that meet safety and durability standards.

The Burr Road structure is a single-span, three-metre cast-in-place concrete rigid frame bridge spanning an unnamed creek, located about 2.5 kilometres west of Highway 62.

Work will include concrete repairs to the deck, soffit, abutment and retaining walls, installation of a new concrete curb and steel railing, waterproofing, and asphalt replacement.

During construction, Burr Road will be closed at the bridge, with traffic rerouted via County Road 2, Christian Road, and Highway 62.

Staff estimate the repairs will delay the need for major work for another 25 to 30 years.