Updates

The Project

The County of Bruce initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) process in February 2021 to address safety concerns associated with the Durham Street Bridge which spans the Saugeen River along Bruce Road 4 in the community of Walkerton, Ontario. Recent inspections of the structure had identified deterioration with several bridge components. Following consideration of various alternatives and significant input from members of the public, repair/rehabilitation of the crossing was selected as the preferred alternative. The required works can be completed using staged construction, which will allow a single lane of traffic to be maintained over the crossing during completion of the work.

The Environmental Assessment Process

The planning for this project initially followed the planning process established for Schedule ‘C’ activities under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) document. Schedule ‘C’ projects must complete all five phases of the Class EA. The purpose of the MCEA was to identify any potential environmental impacts associated with the proposal and to plan for appropriate mitigation of any impacts. The process included consultation with the public, stakeholders, Aboriginal communities, and review agencies. Following selection of the preferred alternative, it was determined that the proposed works were a Schedule B activity.

Public Involvement

Refer to the Notice of Completion document below for information related to public comments.

Environmental Screening Report

The report documenting the environmental assessment process conducted is available at the below document links. Hard copies can be made available upon request.

The following are the materials to be presented at the Public Meeting held on May 1, 2024.

A public information meeting is being organized by the County to update residents on the current status of the project. The meeting will provide details related to the proposed bridge reinforcement/rehabilitation work, including construction details, timing and traffic restrictions during construction. A Class EA update will also be provided, including a timeline for completion of the EA and finalization of the Class EA process.

Date: May 1, 2024

Time: 7:00PM Open House, Formal presentation at 7:30PM

Place: Walkerton District Knights of Columbus Hall (1685 Highway 9, Mildmay)

The following are the materials to be presented at the Public Meeting to be held on October 4, 2022.

Public consultation is a key component of this study. A Public Meeting has been scheduled to update residents of the current status of the project. The meeting will provide project details, including the preliminary findings of a hydrology study, bridge design alternatives, and a review of detour alternatives for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. This meeting will also provide residents with the opportunity to provide additional comments on the project. Details of the meeting are as follows:

Date:                Tuesday October 4, 2022

Time:               Open house from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Formal Presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Place:              Walkerton Community Centre (290 Durham St. W, Walkerton)

Following the meeting, input into this project will be accepted until November 4, 2022. Any comments collected in conjunction with this Class EA process will be maintained on file for use during the project and may be included in project documentation. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.. 

For further information on this project, or to review the Class EA process, please contact the project engineers at the following:

B.M. Ross and Associates: 62 North Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 2T4. Telephone (Toll Free): (888) 524-2641. Kelly Vader, Environmental Planner (e-mail: kvader@bmross.net).